The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-11-15

ONE great question is troubling man,
parts of Oceania at the present time. D.
we look at Australian papers, from tn
various colonies planted there, glance W,
at the recently annexed FIJI, or conside
the condition of our own favored Isles. it i
ever the same cry. labori Wherever agri
cultural enterprise, upon any extensive
scale, has been undertaken that one grea
stumbling block stands in the way. Vari
Gus countries have been tried as field.
from whence labor may be drawn in om
own case, we have drawn from Europe an6
Asia; the southern countries of the Pacific
depend exclusively on Asia. The Polyne
sian as a laborer seems hardly to enter in
to calculations, and even Fiji. where the
Indian coolie has been so much out of favor
has finally had to turn to him. Itbecomes
a matter of interest to watch any efforts
for obtaining laborers that may be in pro
gress under the auspices of other govern
ments besides our own.
/ The colony of South Australia has for
some time been striving to obtain coolie
| laborers and as early as in 1879 passed a
coolie Immigration Act, but, says a Sydney
paper the authorities in England con
suited those of India in the matter and the
regal assent was withheld" After consid-
cradle correspondence, the Indian Gov
eminent finally suggested that some one
should be appointed to confer with it di-
rectly. This suggestion was carried out
and the result, so far as it has been arrived
at, IS now before us. In 1879 the Indian
Government laid special stress upon two
conditions, VIZ the appointment of a
responsible officer to be charged with the
care of the immigrants on arrival, and the
appointment of an agent in Calcutta. Since
the direct conference these matters have
been placed on a more definite footing.
The officer who is to superintend the COO
lies IN the colony is to be nominated by
the Indian Government, but appointed by
the Colonial Authorities, subject to the
approval of the former. This officer will
not only inspect the plantations and the
coolie quarters, but will advise the coolies
as to prosecutions and wages, and if nee
essary assist the Stipendiary Magistrate
in the estimation of wages to be PAID
In Queensland coolies can only be en-
ployed in agricultural labor in South
Australia they may be employed in the
construction of public works as well.
Whether the Indian Government would
give ike concessions to a Foreign Power.
desiring to employ coolies, we are not in a
position to say. There is a strong feeling
IN India with regard to the manner in
which coolies have been treated at Reun-
ion, and the feeling doubtless would ex-
tend to other countries not under British
control
We have been interested to read this
account of few of the restrictions under
which coolies can be introduced into a
British colony this nomination of an in
5pector by the Indian Government. has
always been a vexed question when dis
sussing the scheme here; it has frequently |
been advocated that we should be free to |
appoint our own agent, we now see exactly |
what Is required from a British Colony, |
40 easier terms would be given to any one |
Use. The coolie question is not at present |
prominently before the public, but it is
me Of those questions which is undoubt- |
'dly only in allegiance, and as soon as the
more important O. matter of the corona
ion Is done with, we may look for the
,remiers dabbling in this as well as other
Eastern schemes, so dear to his imagina-
ion. Therefore every scrap of informa-
ion bearing on the point must interest all
Who are engaged in agricultural enterprise
nd all who have the welfare and indepen-
-ence of this little country at heart