Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-04-28
MIR. MdCFIE'S STORY.
Anent The Knauea Labor TrombIe,.

EDITOR SATURDAY PREss-Sr: In your
issue of the 4th instant which has just come
| to hand, appears an extremely one-sided and
incorrect report of the suit brought against the
Kilauea Sugar Company by some German
| laborers, and tried in the Police Court, Homo
lulu, on the 9th instant. As it is undesirable
that the public should be misinformed on
such matter, perhaps you will allow me space
| IN your columns to present the other side of
the case.
| The men in question were imported from
Germany at the expense of the Kilauea Sugar
| Company, to work under contracts for SIG
per month, without board. The Kilauea Sugar
Company was bound by the contracts to
furnish lodgings, and half an acre Of land to
each man; but nothing more. On arrival, till
their permanent quarters were ready, the men
were placed temporarily in the sugar room
adjoining the mill, n spacious, wel-ventilated
building, where suitable bedsteads had been
prepared. As each man brought their own
blankets and bedding the company was neither
asked nor expected to supply these articles.
The permanent quarters for the men consisted
OF rooms twelve feet long, ten feet wide and
ten feet high, with double sash window in
each. Two men were supposed to be in each
room, but some men had rooms alone.
Soon after arrival, these men stated, that
|
use to them, and unanimously petitioned to
have the full use of large dining room,
kitchen and stove, and the wages Of cook
paid for them instead of receiving the half acre
of land. Their request was complied with.
| In court, the men admitted having proposed
and accepted this arrangement, but neverhe.
less as the company had received no soyittsn
release from the obligation to supply each man
with half an acre of land, the Judge ruled that
a breach of contract. On the above ground
alone the mems contracts were cancelled by
the court. They utterly failed to prove any i'll
treatment whatever.
| The statement that no medical attendance
had been provided is gross falsehood, Over
$500 has been paid for medical attendance for
the plantation laborers during the four months
that the men had been in the country previous
to the trial. In addition, an officer of the
plantation daily visited all cases Of illness
requiring special attention. Milk, eggs and
other delicacies have been gratuitously dstri-
buted amongst invalids requiring them. In
some cases a woman has been paid by the
company to nurse invalids requiring more than
ordinary care. There is now a resident medi.
cal man on the plantation who daily attends,
free of charge, all laborers and their families
during sickness.
As the men had to board themselves, the
| company had no responsibility with regard to
their supply Of beef, but had, nevertheless,
made arrangements with neighboring stock.
raiser TO open retail butcher shop ON the
plantation for the mems convenience. Taking
a dislike to the butcher Zone OF their own
countrymenl some of them threatened his life
and drove him away from his place, thus
depriving themselves for few days Of the
opportunity Of buying beef without walking a
nile to fetch it. The company was not called
upon to supply beef, was not in position to
refuse it. All the other complaints reported
in your paper, that are not frivolous, are
devoid Of truth.
These men were literally dealt with in all
respects. Till they were moved into their
permanent quarters, the company boarded
them free OF charge, but still paid them their
contract rates Of wages. Later their wages
were raised S. above the contract rate. Pro-
visions were sold them At cost price, and
everything possible done to make them COM
Portable. All would have been now con.
tentedly working in accordance with their
contracts, had il not been for the unfortunate
presence in their midst OF a socialistic book.
binder and few other mischief makers who
having failed to earn livelihood in Germany,
were glad OF an opportunity to emigrate at the
expense u a Hawaiian Sugar Plantation.
Yours, respectfully,
| X. A MAcfiE, JR.
Manager kilauea Sugar Company.
| kilauea Plantation, Kauai, April 30, 1858.