The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-03-01
The Labor Question.

s.@N SO-SN@AS 49, LA AlO-A ~ - 49, Wv
time, and will concern those more strongly who may
still be living q few years hence.
/ desire TO draw the attention of our rulers,
planters and merchants to the fact that our supply
system. or rather no iys;em, of labor to carry on
our agricultural enterprises still continues in a most
unsatisfactory state. ISOLATED efforts are made by
Pacific, some of our merchants have succeeded in
shores, and the government has lately made some
sporadic attempts in both directions.
Even in the time of Konehameha V. the want Of
agricultural labor was so keenly felt, and had been
for years, that a bureau Of immigration was estab-
lished by that sovereign which has remained in ex-
istence to the present day. Some good in the
earlier stages of its operations was effected first by
the mission of DR.. Hilebrand, and secondly by that
of the present Minister of the Interior. but these
were not followed up, mr. had we in those times
sufficient knowledge of te different countries from
which some Of their nperabundant population
might be drawn with advantage both to them and
ourselves to enable US to brm a proper judgment in
the matter.
So greatly was the want of labor felt that an
immigration Society was organized, and Mr.. Walter
Murray Gibson was the frs person who pointed out
80 0ANSNAO 80 WaANh OA NAOANo S4CAAN
obtain not only a permanent supply of labor, but a
source from which to recruit our waning population.
But he was denounced rs a visionary and schemer.
The doctrine was laid down by men of influence
that it was not necessary to do any thing for the
future of Hawaii; all our exertions should have re-
gard to the present only, leaving the future to take
care of itself
Unfortunately these counsels prevailed. It must
be fresh in the minds of all what reception was ac-
corded by the government of the day in the early
part of the year 1876, to a committee of the society
delegated to wait upon II. NJ. King Kalakaua to
express its views, and beg the consideration of them
by his Cabinet. The committee was publicly scofed
at, ridiculed, insulted; and was most uumistakably
given to understand that its advice was not wanted,
but having been volunteered would not be accepted.
The time that has elaosed has shown how correct was
the course they recommended.
What followed? The re-peopling of q depopulated
land is not a task for individuals, but one that re-
quires the combined energies of numbers; conse-
private persons hare still been without any good
result; some hundreds of Chinese males have been
so introduced to carry on Industrial concerns Ian
gushing for want Of the necessary means to sustain
them probably, a1d by the same individual efforts
SOihN ChHNA ANAS 0AN 16AASh AOS
all of good character; together with some Portu-
guese families AMI q few natives men and women
from Southern Polynesia by the cooperation of the.
government.
But the labor question to all intents and purposes
remains where it WIS. The demand for laborers is
as great as ever, and commands q price in the
market ruinously Ugh to those employing it, while
as a necessary consequence the prices of all articles of
n Of, m ptinn in doiv Ifa boua nm In q
ponding ratio. In6ed the price of labor appears to
be Increasing insteal of diminishing. True we have
at the present time. and expect to retain for three
or four years longa, our reciprocity treaty. This
gives US o better market for our sugar, rice, and
some other agricultural produce than is enjoyed by
any other people onearth outside the United States.
But we cannot coun on the advantages afforded by
this treaty forever AT best the treaty must expire
by limitation, and tien unless some decisive step be
at once taken, we sh.ll find ourselves face to face
with a crisis, for W. can hardly hope for its re-
newal. Even if we Ould, an alteration in the tariff
between the United Safes and other countries might
put an end to all the tenefts we receive from it.
This is not q state q affairs pleasant to contem-
plate, or that invites Infection except for the purpose
of finding q remedy to prevent industrial disaster.
evils that will follow the introduction of $50 many
males in excess of femtles, must suggest themselves
to every thoughtful mind. Those who have sowed
the wind will reap the whirlwind. But I desire to
confne myself solely b the economic view, that in
which dollars and cents alone are concerned.
1t will be emembere that before the passage of
The Reciprocity Treaty several small parcels of our
sugar were sent to AustIalia and New Zealand. They |
met With ready sale, but not al such rates as we're
considered remunerative by shippers and consignors.
They came into competition with the article from
Msuritius, with the result just named. What was
he reason Why should not our produce compete
IN equal terms with that from any other country
The answer is obvious, and has been patent for years
The wages paid to our laborers are so much
greater than those paid in the aboye-named island
hat the excess paid by US must prevent any success
al competition on our part in the worlds markets
planters able to employ men at q so much lower
wage. This is a bad look out, but worse is 10 come.
Besides Mauritius. other British colonies are now
bringing into existence, and producing the same
rticle which constitutes our principal staple at q
Owor rate than we can pretend to do. FIJI and
queensland, both British, Bourbon and New Gale
onia, both French colonies, are sugar-produeing
Some Of them have gone to Southern
'olynesia for laborers, bpt all are now receiving
hem from one of those sources to which Mr.. Gibson
irected our attention years ago--British India.
Thy should not we endeavor TO tap the same reser-
for our own benefit. We know that we treat
Ut workmen well, and that under the kindly rule of
Ut Hawaiian Sovereigns no people can well be more
zee and happy. Why not then attempt to trans
n small portion OF the superaDundant Asian
opulaiion to our own beautiful but almost desolate
1 shall be at once met with the reply, the attempt '
Is been made and has failei. We cannot obtain :
~ of those desirable colonists. A treaty and f
larantees were required by the British Govern l
emit; and after spending a considerable sum of
oney, we abandoned the case as hopeless. c
| answer, this is not the manner in which q diff C
should be met by any one who is really desir- I
Is to overcome it. If any GOODNESS existed between
e British Government and the late Hawaiian En- "
y. the unpleasant feeling may be d~issipated by @
Is time. We know that Government to be well b
sposed towards US. If it were not, there would not s
a British Commissioner resident near the Kings T
nor a British ship of war stationed in our har- A
r. There is not the slightest doubt in my mind a
At we heiug properly represented, they would !,
ant every facility towards furnishing US with the :
pply Of labor we require, even though the envoy .
the future should not be endowed with the bril- 7
Mt talents it is admitted be of the past possesses.
person of much more ordinary attainments, pro-
ed he were not imbecile or unacceptable to the I
Government, might unrayel the complication tn
I bring the matter to q successful issue. But 1t .
uld be q sine qua ron that both our Government -
envoy should be thoroughly in earnest. That is