The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-07-16
The Question of Labor.

In April last at meeting of citizens inter-
ested in the labor question, held at the Cham
Der of Commerce in this city, a committee of
five was appointed charged with the duty of
making Investigations into the question of
obtaining laborers from India and to commu-
nicate all information on immigration at a
subsequent meeting. In pursuance of the
instructions of the meeting in April last, the
same body reconvened at the rooms of the
Chamber of Commerce on Thursday last at 10
o'clock A. NJ The Hon. Godfrey Rhodes pre-
sided, and II. L. Sheldon octed as secretary
The chairman made The following report, for
which together with the account of the pro-
ceeding we are indebted to the p. c. AdcertiSer
of the 18th inst:
HONOLULU, July 5th, 1879.
The undersigned Committee appointed to consider
the question OF Immigration to this country for the
purpose Of increasing the laborng population beg
report, that they have considered fully s was in
their power all the information they able pro-
cure, from the reports and dations of the
Hawaiian Government, the Colonial and Indian
reports, and from private
And the Committee i'm ling that the evidence is in
favor OF the value of the Indian Coolies for the pur
pose named and believing that there are no serious
obstacles, either political financial, to the prOcur-
ing Of such Immigrants, they unanimously recon-
mend that this meeting respectfully request His Ma
jesty's Government to take such steps as may be
necessary to introduce. by way Of experiment East
Indian Coolies to the extent recommended by DR.. Hill
lebrand the former Commissioner, say 800 400 peo
pie. IL. A. WIDEMANN,
TREO. II. DAWES,
J. b. ATHERToH,
]. C. GLADE.
J. H. Patty, Esq, one oftbe Committee, stated that
he bad not signed the report, for the reason that
formation recently received from Fiji, in regard to
coolies imported there, had led him entertain
doubts to the feasibility Of the proposed immgra
ton.
Hon. A. F. Judd expressed himself as both sur
prised and disappointed at the non-prOduction of
facts in the report of the committee. Whatever in
formation the committee might have had which to
base their report, there certainly none before
the meeting, whereby to come to a conclusion.
Hon. c. e. Harris, referring to letter which ap-
peared in newspaper during April last 1.-THE Haw-
aian GAZETTE in which himself and MIR. Justice
Judd were spoken of as having at the meeting of
April 3rd, laid aside the judicial ermine, descend
ed from the tribunal they adorn entered he arena of
public discussion and brought the weight of their
authority " &c. Judge Harris said that be did not
consider his position as a judge by any dis
qualified him or should deprive him of his right as a
property holder citizen from expressing his opin-
ion matters of public interest," like the one under
discussion. He thought the introduction of 800 to
400 coolies. experiment would cost from IS 900
to SlO.OOO In former years the importation of Jap
hueee COst elmldG large he tnOugnt taHOra-
bly, of the immigration OF South Sea Islanders. That
failure at first, and cost the government heavi-
ly, 1.-THE Manahk lslanders) but il is evident
success, aud is being carried on at moderate cost
j. ID. Patty, Esq, read extract from the n. z.
Heral Of JuDed 2lst, in regard to the importation of
coolies in Fiji
Hon. Mr.. Widemann stated that bis reason for sign
ing the report that it was a recommendation to
the government to try the experiment, but he did
not endorse it as whole.
F. A. Schaefer, ESQ., could not approve of the rec
ommendation of the report without having before
him tie facts upon which twas based. Information
may hereafter be obtained from FIJI to the cost
&C., of cooie labor it the planters there are
trying the experiment
Hon. Mr.. Rhodes conceded to the Chief Justice
and the First Associate their perfect right to speak
In public upon matters of public interest, and for
himself claimed the right Of criticism. There had
been a memorial to the King. signed by some forty
planters, recommending government action on this
matter of East Indian immigration. The govern
meut had replied, referring to Hon. Mr. Carter's
mission. That mission had failed in respect to me-
gotatons for East Indians. 1t amounted to an in.
suit to the British government 1t was of no use
to send commission to India, ,as suggested by the
government reply to the memorial, without first
making convection with the home government in
London.
Hon. c. c. Harris denied that the British gov
eminent or any of its members had been insuted
or felt that they had been in the matter of the Hon.
Mr.. Carter's mission.
Hon. Mr.. Judd defended the mission of the Hon.
Mr.. Carter from any such imputaton as conveyed BY
the remarks Of Hon. Mr.. Rhodes. Mr.. Houlder had
proposed to land coolies here 500 per head which
meant passage money only-much other expense
must be first incurred
Some tesultory conversation ensued as to the liza
bility of East Indian immigrants to cholera; when
motion of the Hon. A S. Cleghorp the meeting
was adjourned to meet again eight weeks hence,
when further information may be obtained.