The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-04-16

! EDTroE GAzI:rrE:-How can We procure cheap
labor to keep our chief industries going on pay
ing basis sugar being low in price and likely 10
remain low?
In answer it may be said that China seems to be
the only country that rely for a sufficient
/ supply Of cheap labor for our wants. There are
] some Chinese laborers arriving in Honolulu and
/ they should be allowed to come until the demand
Is hlled. Then the plantations will be able to say
what price thcy will pay for the low class labor;
| heretofore and now the Chinese have dictated
/ the terms.
do not share the fears Of the GAZETTE that too
many will arrive; not until have enough to sup
/ ply our own wants at 4 cheap rate should we be
alarmed. The Government has heretofore checked
the coming of these laborers, perhaps not taking
into consideration, the increased demand for this
labor. on account Of Plantations being started
and old ones being enlarged. About four years
| ago planters employed Chinese day labOrers for
SIG per month. Sugar was worth $3.50 per ton net.
At the present time Chinese day lAborers are get
| ting go TO S3f per month, and sugar is worth
about $50 per ton net and may come down TO $50
or less. Hawaii should be supplied with tbs kind
OF labor NJ as low rdtes as any other country: they
60 elsewhere for Sl4 per month, and they should
come here for the same. as il is nearer their home
and they are located better.
We must expect low prices for sugar in the
future The success that the sorghum and beet
sugar manufacture has attained, and the late
treaty between the United States and Mexico, will
insure large yield Of sugar at Tow prices. l
tliLlk tnat feuu lnle8e llDOrers should be allowed
TO come here during the next two months, and 200
per month for four months longer, and then 1000
per year. If We cannot have this relief, then
would suggest that the planters reduce their bust
ness one fourth and discharge one fourth of their
Chinese laborers, and then agree with each other
to pay for Chinese day labor $ per month and
board
The native laborers are too few in number to
rely on; the Portuguese immigrants will all ta
wanted for higher class of labor, handling teams,
plowing, ETC., and we will have to rely upon the
Chinese to fill the lower class Of field labor, and
this kind Of labor largely predOminates planta-
tons The first proposed course is muck the bet
ter one. viz have plenty of laborers here; enforce
Ns r1gruHf lar; 20 on developing the country,
make more business for our shipping. more gen
orsil business will be done in the towns more work
for our skilled mechanics, and then the country
will be prosperous.
Ny attention has Just been called TO a notice
from the government, allowing only y Chinese
per vessel b b. landed. believe the government
has made great mistake IN taking this course.
I would further suggest that the Planters Labor
and Supply Co. call meeting of the planters,
plantation owners. and all who are interested. TO
devise ways aud means Of relief.
Lahaina April sth, 1891. W. Y. HoRNER.
NAvIuArons Of the Pacific will be unable to OBJ
tain charts Of that ocean for some time to come.
The stock on hand In the photographic Office in
Washington had become so nearly exhausted that
orders were given a few days AGO 10 have some
nurn printed. with the --latest corrections. In or
der to the original plates, it was determined
20 take electrotypes from them for printing and |
IN the process Of eleciroiyping the original si1
plates were entirely ruined. II is said that II will
cost S 000 and take two years time TO reproduce
these plates and meanwhile the issue and sale Of
there charts must be suspended !