The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-03-29
Committee Reports of Planters
Association.
Report Of Labor Committee to PIanter.'
Aasorintien.
To THE HoSoRABLE, THE CHAIRMAN OF TIE
PLANTERs' ASSOCIATION

PLANTERs' ASSOCIATION
The question Of labor is. without doubt, the
most serious problem that can be brought under
the consideration of this Honorable Convention
and your committee fully appreciate the i'm
portance Of the work they are called upon to
perform in so limited a space Of time. They
are therefore, compelled to submit their views,
and the decisions they have arrived at in a report
unembelished by any attempt beyond the plainest
statement Of facts and reasons for the opinions
so given.
The isolated position Of this island kingdom
has always tended 70 increase rather than
diminish the difficulty Of obtaining labOrers
from abroad and the rapid decrease Of the
native race long since gave US warning that we
could not depend upon home resources for a
supply The questions where and 70 whom We
were to look came up even before the impetus
given to our industry by the Treaty Of Beci-
procity, and have engaged the attention Of our
best men, both public and private for years
past. You are all familiar with the attempts
that have been made by the general Government
to recruit the waning population, and supply the
needed bone and sinew to develop the great
natural resources Of the country. That some Of
these attempts have been partially unsuccessful
Is not to be wondered nj on the contrary, there
is reason to congratulate ourselves, and acknow-
ledge, with thanks, the efforts that have been
put forth in our behalf by His Maiesty's Minis
ters and which have tended greatly TO our relief,
and ut least shown rs what can be done by
proper combination Of enterprise and capital.
In few. If any, instances has the Government
been seconded by the assistance of the planter
to be benefited beyond the mere agreement ON
his part to engage the laborer at stated wages on
arrival in the kingdom. That some well-concerted
plan and general agreement between the planters
and the Government would strengthen the latter
and benefit the former no one will gainsay but
the organization Of q plan by means of which
such work could be accomplished and the
planters Of the different islands be brought
within a common bond for mutual benefit has
been neglected and delayed until our necessities
are forcing us to consider the matter, and take
some action before are driven to the wall
Perhaps the greatest drawback TO a concerted
action on the part Of all the planters Is the
difference of opinion as TO the nationality Of
laborers best adapted to our wants. All agree
that the native Hawaiian is naturally superior rs
"a plantation hand 70 any Of the nnportatiOns
hitherto made; but although the native race
supplied nearly the entire labor force Of the
kingdom ten years ago, at present only about p
per cent. Of the plantation laborers are Ha-
waiiaus and the number is steadily decreasing.
Again the view, Of planters as to the most
desired uUtiundiires change and vary with time
and experience 4 circular letter addressed by
the Minister Of the Interior 20 the different
planters brings out an expression OF preference
in favor of the Chinese and Portuguese as
lab1rers. while in 1872 % similar expression Of
opinion was largely in favor OF the japanese.
Your committee believe that the Chinese are
probably the best for general plantation lahoIars,
but that II is not advisable 90 have the Pluutl-
ton wholly supplied 10y that labor The natives
of the New Hebrides have proved 10 De If the
best 0f field LIuda-ucLt To- the natives ui these
islands and IL Is regretted that but So few have
been brought here. lt /, thought from the
experience OF the past That the South Sea
Islander, are failure. aud yuur committee would
recommend that no further effort be made in
that direction The Portuguese are considered
a desimble class Of Iaboyers. within certain
limits, but the expense attending their employ
meut has proved excessive. 4 movement IN
conjunction with the Government by which the
latter may pay for the introduction Of women
and children. without contracts, would, peg
haps. lessen the expense TO the planter, aud
help repopulata the country TO ITS great odyan-
tara. lOur committee would report against the
attempt To- bring. as contract laborers into this
KINGDOM the people OF any Of the countries of
Northern Europe although they believe that
assistance ON the part Of the Hawaiian Govern
ment to such as desire 90 eml8rate To- tins country
might properly be rendered, and prove beneficial
to the country at large.
p
Of introducing the Hndogs-a elias, Of la5orers
as vet untried. Your committee do not feel
called upon to express an opinion as 20 the
value Of such labor, or the piuctlcabllty OF m
Producing the same into these islands But they
are firm in the opinion that under no ciTcum-
stances should the planter become alnen~Lle TO
the laws or regulations Of any foreign NoFtrn-
ment. And it would be considered @ sufficient
bar TO the introduction of Hindoo laborers if the
llin
coming here under the sole protection Of Ha-
waiian laws. If a satisfactory arrangement could
be made regarding the legal control Of these
people upon the passage by the Hawaiian Legs
iature Of certain well-regulated laws, in con-
formitv with the wishes Of the British Govern
ment. and not inimical to the interests Of
the planters. your committee would recon-
mend such action rs should at least
test the question Of the utility Of such
labor, and the practicability Of its intro
ductiOn here III numbers sufficient to supply our
wants. And your committee would further re-
commend that the Government be requested 10
enter into Il correspondence with the British
Government in relation to bringing Hindoos to
this country, in order that we may know exactly
upon what terms the same may be done.
1t is not probable that any intelligent planter
would prefer to select his laborers all from one
nationality. even II q choice were given him. 1t
best fit the labOrer for different positions. With
an allowance for exceptional cases, it Is generally
conceded that the regular, plodding manner Of
the Chinamln, and his aptness for initiating or
learning from example, peculiarly tits HIM for
the b0iling-hOuse, or the routine Of hand field
work and irrigation and your committee would
earnestly recommend that the Government be
requested TO take all ueediul and necessary steps
iar keeping that country open To our demands
for Labor now and in the future.
While the Portuguese seem admirably adapted
for b.. helpers or assistants in the many me
chauical industries pursued upon the plantation,
they do not. as a rule, take kindly to the monot-
onous hand work in the field, nor succeed IN
the handling Of teams Heretofore we have re-
lied almost exclusively upon the native Hawaiian,
who with his natural fondness FOR the horse and
aptitude in handling our half-broken cattle adds
the favorable popularity Of a Willingness 70
work out tilupau without regard to regularity Of
hours or time OF day But unfortunately, the ma
tive is fast Disappearing from our plantation
rolls being either engaged in his own little spe-
citations or absorbed by the increased demands
of our c0asting service, for which he alone IS
available. and it becomes a matter Of necessity
that we SHALL rs faras possible, introduce steam
and machinery to take the place Of our teams, or
recuperate from abroad, our thinned ranks ot
teamsters.
In this connection 1t may not be improper for
your committee to remark upon the difference in
wages paid by planters, without corresponding
difference in the value oi the labor 50 paid for.
That there Is a difference in the value to the
planter Of the labor actually required for the di-
ferent departments Of the plantation, no one viii
dispute It does not require the strength Of
muscle. quickness Of movement or good sense
and Judgment to turn the trlsh upon the ground
or jrrinate the cane field, that it does TO guide
the pillow or handle the team. Yet the one may
be a dav laborer 1T high wages picked mp IN the
emergency Of Observation-Disclosures while the other
Is a shipped hand under long contract at the
old rates.
1t Is. Of course, only by the law Of supply and
demand that we can hope to fully overcome this
discrepancy. but it is also hoped that by some
united action on the part Of the planters labor
NAV be so distributed and arranged that each
man will be worthy Of his hire, and the " sun
downers. or wandering tramps, be put to the
proper work or banished altogether.
In conclusion your Committee respectfully
/ recommend that a well concerted plan Of action
/ be devised and agreed upon, and the necessary
/ capital and power be committed to the charge oil
! selected agents to carry out measures for bring
/ ing labor into the country and distributing the
same according to the wants Of the various
planters upon basis Of tonnage; and in this
| connection they commend to the consideration Of
| this Honorable Convention the charter granted
| by the Hawaiian Government, for the organiza-
/ ton Of a corporation called the Planters LabOl
/ and Supply Co., which your Committee believes
will solve the problem Of labor, and bring about