The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-11-06
BOARD OF IMMIGRATION.

y By invitation, a number of gentlemen
interested in plantation investments met
at the Government Buildings yesterday
forenoon, and had an interview with the
Board of Immigration. About a dozen
gentlemen, besides the members of the
Board, were present. His EXcellency the
Chairman of the Board explained the ar
engagements and expectations of the Board,
more especially with regard to immigra-
ton from the South Sea Islands. His
remarks took the form, to some extent, of
a defense of the South Sea scheme, and he
expressed the belief that the difficulties
hitherto experienced would be moderated
as time went on. He gave reasons why
the heavy death-rat of South Sea Islander
in the Hawaiian Islands should not be
looked upon as a normal condition of
things, exceptional causeS having been at
play. If the Hawaii and Stormbird were
moderately successful, 500 or 600 South Sea
might be expected in four or six
months from now. Besides these, some 400
Portuguese, about 600 Norwegians, and 100
Germans were expected during the same
period. The Board was paying half the
passages of the women, and the whole of
the passages of the children included in
the above numbers. The Boards finances
would not allow them to enter into further.
engagements of Importance unless they got
a larger reimbursement through the i'm
portatiOn of South Sea Islanders than they
at present ventured to expect. The Board
would be glad of suggestions from those in
UereSUeu. mT.ACnerUOn, by eQueSL,eXplalne
the arrangements his firm had made for pro-
curing the expected Norwegian immi-
grants. Mr.. Phuger urged that the Board
should endeavor to procure further Access
sions from European countries to counter
balance the large number of Chinese who
were coming. He gave statistics showing
1135 immigrants coming from Norway,
Germany, and the Azores, of whom he
estimated hat perhaps 600 would be adult
.males-adding these to the 1900 Chinese
expected, and say 500 South Sea Islanders,
it appeared that something like 5000 would
be added to our laboring population within
six or eight months. Member of the Board
thought that it would not do for the depart
ment to enter into liabilities for European
immigrants beyond paying as heretofore,
half the passages of women, and passages
children. They had about $20,0O0 available
for this and for passages of Chinese women,
if they could succeed in inducing them to
come. Mr.. Along being appealed to, said
he thought it wonld be difficult to get
Chinese women. If they came, they would
probably be "not nice women" He also,
in reply to a question, expressed his belief
that the rice plantations were already
pretty fairly supplied, and that large ar
walls of laborers would result in a break
down of the present combination as to
wages. 1t was finally agreed that the Board
Norwegian, German, or Portuguese immi-
grants and, if properly guaranteed, act as
the medium for procuring them. To the
suggestion that this should be advertised,
the chairman replied that it was sufficiently
advertised already, as those present repre-
Sented most of the planting interest. The
meeting then broke up.