The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-10-13

WE wonder whether half dozen people think of
how many intricate and interesting problems are
on the cards before the statesmen and thinkers of
these Islands.
One of the great many questions which we have
to solve is the matter of labor The state of the
labor market is at present very unsatisfactory;
plantations are paying far too highly for their
men; it is only the extraordinary fertility of the
soil and the exceptional advantages we have for
trade with the United States which enables them
to hold their heads above water. We have lately
been importing Chinese, South Sea Islanders and
Portuguese; of the former we have more than
enough, the Chinaman up to certain quantity is
not a bad resident in country, but one can have
too much of good thing The number of labor
ers that we can draw from the South Seas seems to
be very limited the Portuguese do not make good
field hands the plantations they work better for
themselves as small farmers, as mechanics and SO
forth they are valuable adjunct to our popula-
ton, but they are very expensive to bring here.
There has been much talk lately about obtaining
laborers from British India, and whether they
should or should not be brought from there seems
to have grown into a sort of party question. The
advocates for such cooe labor taunted with the
desire of enhancing British influence at the ex-
pense of that of all other powers here, and of en-
dangering the Reciprocity Treaty the opponents
of the scheme branded as annexationists people
who are striving to undermine this country's Gov
ernment and credit by every means in their power
In order the sooner to be able to hand us over to
the great Republic. Between these two parties
there is a mean composed of men who know little
or nothing about the matter, and who are willing
to be guided either for or against Hindu labor
the moment thev hava cnficiaut Dat 10 M ,,r<,,,
Considering this matter we have five questions
which will raise which if satisfactorily answered
would prove to us that the Hindu would be de-
sirabe addition to the population of Hawaii nei
First then, there is the political aspect are they,
when they come, to form sort of impeyim in
i@peyiO, Kingdom within Kingdom2 Are our
authorities when applying laws to be constant
ly hampered by another authority appointed by
tho British Government ? We hardly think such
would be the case still might and it is question
for grave consideration and thorough eucidation
before we make step forward. Secondly, there
Is food: we have all heard how particular these
people are that no particle of pork and other fat
should adhere to or be mixed with their food;
suspicion of pollution from this cause was what
was used by schemers to the lower classes of
Hindustan to that celebrated mutiny which sent
shiFer Vi Horfor through the world. Thirdly,
physique: upon this matter opinions vary; we hear
them spoken of as feet in height and as very un-
dersized, the probability being that the coolies
differ in size in different parts of the country, and
further large men not always the best laborers;
thin, wiry little fellows would answer admirably for
our field work. Fourthly, it has been stated that
these people are extremely litgious great stickers
for the letter of their contracts; that among them
are many keen and willy minds giving their whole
thoughts to causing trouble in this particular if
this is SO should be wary of them we might find
ourselves in constant hot water with their home
authorities. Lastly, and probably most practically,
is the question of expense; estimates upon this
head vary from $50 piece to $500 or 500.
We have attempted to put these questions as a
thorough outsider We rank ourselves with neither
party in this matter. We recognize the urgent
need in which the plantations stand of having
labor, cheap labor, and labor as soon as possible
We also recognize the claims of the country, as a
country being higher than the needs of the planter
and that In order to enrich the pockets of the few
1t would be heinous crime in our Government to
import class of people who would be injurious to
the many. We want the whole community to
think and think well upon this matter 1t is a vital
problem which will have to be solved within the
next few months; time is money, and more es-
pecially is it the years of Reciprocity adyant
ages speed away.