The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-10-21
THE STATE OF THINGS AT THE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Translated from the Norwegian newspaper,
MorgenJIadet. dated August 18th, 1882.

4MorgenJlddet. dated August 18th, 1882.
A Norwegian, Mr.. Waldemar Knudsen,
who during a series of years has resided on
the Hawaiian Islands, but who at present
is visiting Norway, has given the editor of
the Norwegian paper, A~Orgen6tdd. differed
infOrmatiOnS about the state of things on
the islands anu particularly about emigra-
ton matters and about those complaints,
which of late years have frequently been
heard on the part of the Norwegians, who
nave emigrated to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
AS we re notwithstanding partly on letters
from the islands, partly on reports In the
Hawaiian, English, and Norwegian papers
have mentioned these complaints, we In
tend to give a ummary sketch of Dir.
Knudsen's statement to the editor of the
Norwegian MOrgeRbtd8 as these besides
bearing the stamp of credibility and trust
worthiness derive Il particular significance
by Mr.. Kudsen's residence of 30 years on
the islands. Mr.. Knudsen is consequently
fully acquainted with the state Of matters
on the islands, and has been invested with
several public offices of trust he has, FL,
from 1S6O-70, been Notary Public. and from
lS6S-T0. been an NJ. p. of the islands
According to the enunciations of Mr.
Knudsen. we get-what is also stated by
the editor of the Norwegian AOr0en5LdG-
the impression, that the complaints of the
Norwegian emigrants are altogether with
out foundation.
In the first place, Mr.. Knudsen observes,
the immigration to the Hawaiian Islands,
anu thS "a ~ "a - -
matter under the control OF the government
by a special institution, the Board OF I'M
migration.
When this authority sanctioned che pro-
posal of Capt. LOrange Ia Nerwegian)
about procuring Norwegian labOrers for the
island, this was done with the express In
junction, that they must be people h
were accustomed to field labor and against
whom no objection could be raised. Mr..
Knudsen is of the opinion, that Captain
LOrange has taken the matter too easily,
for instead of sticking to his orders be en-
gagged the people indiscriminat ely, AVID a
great part of those he got from Norway be-
Ion2ed to an unworthy portion of tn pOpu-
lation in the towns, who were inclined to
make disturbance, and were unaccustomed
to, and u~nacguainted with the kind of work
to which they were put moreover, there
were difficulties Oh account OF language.
According to Mr.. Kudsen's opinion the
chief cause of complaint is to be found in
this, and if the instructions given had been
followed, much difficulties would have
been avoided.
The solicitude of the government for the
immigrants is, however, not limited to the
inspection of them, whether the latter
really be fit for the work, they have under
taken to perform.
Nobody is, for instance, allowed to ell
gage the services of an immigrant, except
a contract be made out In the presence of u
man duly appointed by the government,
who makes known to each of the parties
the Inherent CLAUSES anu tuib OelpR uOHe
at the expense of the employer. When
a plantation is transferred from one owner
to another, the contracts made with the
former become void. A duty not to be de-
waited from rests with the employer TO
give married people a separate
dwelling, and on every plantation there is
a hospital, and a physician for which the
workmen has nothing to pay.
The maintenance OF these general pro-
visions as well US of those stipulated in the
contracts with the labprers, are also con-
stantly subject to the control of the govern
ment. One of the best men OF the country,
Mr.. Cleghorn, who is married with the
Kings sister, is regularly travelling through
the islands, going fro one plantation to
the other, and examining inte the state of
the houses the victuals, etc. and he also
asks the laborers, whether they have any
sui General of Honolulu, Mr.. Wodehouse,
is frequently through a o tnt the s.m ISLANDS d. tho for c the
with a Clergyman, Mr.. Bingham, who is
appointed by the government to take
charge of the immigrants from the South
Sea islands, having studied the language of
those people.