Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-06-25
WE desire 10 call attention to tho fnllnwin

WE desire 10 call attention to the following
article on "Colored Labor for Sugar Grow
ing" from the QassusidRder of May lith:
"The increasing difficulty in getting Polyne-
slams has induced the Mackay planters to look
further afeld, and we understand that the
Planters Association is taking steps to draw
the attention of the Government to the exis-
tence of Coolie Act In 1862 short act
was passed empowering the Governor-n-
Council to issue regulations for the introduc-
ton aud protection of laborers from British
India. These regulations, which were duly
declared by proclamation. have remained u
dead letter for the Intervening nineteen years.
partly in consequence Of some objection from
the Indian Government concerning the provi-
sion Tor the return passenge of the immigrants,
but chiefly because Captain Towns discovered
suitable class Of laborers near at hand. 1t
is difficult to help regretting that this dis
covery was made. The kanaka is at best a
savage, often tractable and leadable, but still
undeniahy savage whose short contact with
civilization works little change in him He is
child 10 he protected from the i'll usage or
Geception of cruel or designing men, aud is to
too great an extent incapable of guarding his
own rights. The Indian Coolic, on the other
hand, cones from an older civilization than
our own. He is peaceahle and industrious
iaborer whose ancestors have been engaged in
cultivation for countless generations. The
Bengal Coolies come principally from the
northwest provinces andifrom 0udb, where
the climate very closely resembles that of
Northern Queensland, hot and dry in the early
summer, iii the rainy season the same heat in
more oppressive form, and in winter dry,
cool, and bracing. In his own terribly over
populated country the unfortunate laborer
carries on a constant battle with penury, re-
ceiving for long days in the field miserable
remuneration. When under the favorable cir
cumstances OF emigration, he gets abundant
food, he develops fine physique, and is, both
IN appearance and working ability. far
superior so the natives of Southern India.
Mr.. Jenkens, NJ P, who visited British Gui-
ana a few years ago to investigate the condi-
tion of Indian Coolies in that colony, in the
pamphlet he subsequently issued, speaks of
them as magnificent men, tall figures, deep
broad chests, and well moulded limbs"
Physically, they are far superior 10 kanakas,
whose want of vigorous vitality is one of the
chief objections to their introduction to new
modes of life which very seriously enhance
their death rate. The Indian Emigration Act
extends to Mauritius, jamaica aud other West
Indian islands, Natal and various French and
Dutch colonies, but Queensland is not at pre-
sent included
The Indian Government have no desire to
obstruct the Emigration of Coolius, there only
care being TO guard the emigrants from fraud
and other i'll usage and in the case of emf
grants not being properly treated or punctual-
ly returned the operation OF the Act is at once
suspended in the offending colony. II in the
future the planters of this colony should petit
ton to be allowed to draw their labor from
India rather than from Polynesia, we imagine
whatever Government might be in power
would offer no objection. The country, of
course, would not consent to any outlay for
this purpose, and all expenditure would have
to be borne by those for whose benefit the
coolies were imported. The appointment of
an immigration agent in Calcutta would be
necessary, whose business would be to appoint
recruiters in the northeast, and establish a
depot at the point of embarkation. Each
Immigrant can be engaged only before u
magistrate, and on arrival in Calcutta he has
to pass the medical inspector, and while in
the depot is under the surveillance of the
Government Protector. Mapractces are only
remotely possible under such system, and
although the cost of procuring these men
would be higher than that incurred in i'm
porting kanakas, they would be of far better
class, bringing large percentage of their
women with them and the term OF Ave years,
tor which they engage, would allow the
planter to recoup himself for the additional
hfst outlay. The sugar industry has become
too hopeful source Of future wealth To allow
any purely sentimental objections TO interfere
with Ills prosperity. At the same time, If the
old regulations are to be enforced, they will
require considerable amendment. There is no
mention in them Of restricting tho imported
laborers to tropical agricuture--a safeguard
on which the people Of this colony have a
right to insist"