The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-04-08

these men are experts in assisting their
fellow-countrymen in that very common
form of swindling which consists in enter
ing into labor contracts, obtaining the usual
advance and then almost Immediately alb
scondiHg. Thcse several evils, which by
their effect on the laboring population have
become a subject of apprehension to our
planters not second on magnitude to the
threatened scarcity of labor, occupied n
great deal of attention at the meetings of
the Association and the Planters Labor
and Supply Company. They evoked from
the latter body resolutions, a. in favor of
a total prohibition of the importation of
intoxicating drinks into this Kingdom; ~
in favor of maintaining our present strin-
gent opium Jaw and enforcing it rigorous
iy; 81 in favor of Il system of passports for
labOrers having in view the putting down
of the practice of a~bsconding; and a in
favor of rendering labor contracts void if
an advance of more than SIS on "A years en-
gagement, or S25 on u contract tor two or
more years be given.
1t will be readily understood that only a
strong conviction that it il the sole method
of dealing with a pressing difficulty that
would have induced Il body of men, the
large majority of whom are not teetotallars,
to advocate unanimously, and to pledge
themselves to use every endeavOr to secure,
so stringent a measure as the total prohibit
ton of the importation and sale of beers,
wines, and spirits. They have been accused
of insincerity, of proposing a measure they
knew they cou.i not carry merely as a
forcible demonstration against the agitation
which has long been going on and is now
very strong for the abolition Of the class
legislation by , hich native Hawaiians are
prohibited from using liquor. There is no
foundation for such an insinuation. The re-
solution passed by the Planters Company
was opposed by Il large number of its mem
bers until-the facts having been land be-
fore them-they became convinced that,
whether a practicable measure or not, total
prohibition was the only one that could in
the present condition of the population of
these islands effectually Zeal with the
serious and widespread increase of drinking
habits. 1t is certain that the importation
of beer, wines and spirits has largely in
creased during the past year, whilst the
number of foreigners excluding Chinese
who do not use the same liquor), for whose
Use, as the law stands, the whole importa-
ton should take place, has increased very
Sib "A llS ulI lltlt lit evil VI
drunkenness among plantation laborers has
VIGOROUSLY increased whilst in conjunction
with it there has been revealed by official
enquiries the fact that in some parts of the
country two-thirds of the natives nave be-
come addicted to the use of opium. These
facts, and the strong feeling ofthe Hawaii
ans against the continuance of the class
legislation already alluded to, will certainly
| anlar tho I .,,Ar ,,ut; 80 - IL. -.-A
prominent subjects of discussion during the
ensuing session of the Legislature. What
measures, if any,, may be carried it is i'm
possible to forecast but it should be said
that a strong feeling exists that if our pre-.
sent Liquor and Opium laws were admin
istered with even moderate efficiency the
present state of things would never have
come to pass, and it is certain thai whether
there be new legislation on the subject OIL
not a reform of admin. tration will be rigor-
ously insisted upon.
Hon. A. :. Cleghorn, as Commissioner for
the Board of Immigration of this Kingdom,
and Her Brittanic Majesty's COMMISSIONS
Major j. Hay Wodehouse, have visited the
island of Kauai during the month in com
mencement of 4 tour of the whole group,
for the purpose of inspecting and reporting
upon the manner in which the laborers OH
our plantations are housed and cared for by
their employers. The British Commission.
er has undertaken this work under com.
mand, Earl Granville having asked him fol
II report on the subject. There is some spe-
c%ulatiOn as to the reasons what have in,
duced the Government of Great Britain tC
make this inquiry, as no British subjects
are engaged on our plantations, and the
Commissioned has already examined into
the manner in which the South Sea Isl.
anders- whom Great Britain looks upon as
i'll some sense her wardS-are treated under
their labor contracts. 1t may reasonably
be assumed that the expectation of an APP.
plication for East Indian coolies ha, led &
this request for information. At the same
time it cannot be doubted that the ISLANDERS
upon our planters and on the labor svsten
i'll vogue here, which tie San Francisco
Chronicle has put into circulation, have haC
something to do withit. However this MAY
be, the government and people of this coun
try EIafl with pleasure such an opportunity
for an independent report upon the condi
ton of our labOrers-a thing they could no
nave asked any foreign government to pro
cure, bat which they will be very glad t.
have go before the world in defence, as w,
know it must prove to be, of the good name
of our planters, which has been so Wiley and
ruthlessly assailed. Accordingly His Excel
lency, the Minister of the Interior as Presi
dent of the Board of immigration has adj.
dressed q letter t. the planters requesting
them to give the British Commissioner and
the COMMISSIONS of the Board the fulles
facilities for making the desired investiga
ton, a request which has unhesitatingly
and most willingly been complied will
wherever they have gone.
The Hon. Mr.. Cieghorn Joined Majo
Wodehouse on Kauai on the 18th ult., an,
they together visited the following pIanta
tions: Eleele, Mr.. Bindts', the Kekahi
Mil Co.'S, the Kekaha Plantation Co.'S, KO
Iloa, the Lihue plantations, Hanamaulr
Mil Co.'S, and those of the planters con
nected with this mill, the Makee Suga
Co.'s at Kapaa and Kealia, Kilauea, an
Princeville. They visited the laborers