The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-11-26
Tho Labor Problem" Again.

LGHAISA, November 18th, 1884
EDTTOR GAZETTE:-The p. C. AdrsT tisey. dated
November llth, contained an article, headed Be-
witched Planters" l think the writer is not a
planter, and presume knows but little about their
business.
Labor is regulated generally by the demand and
supply; If the demand is great and the supply
short, labor will be high; if the supply is ample
wages will be low.
Chinese go to other countries for fourteen dol
lars per month and board themselves have it
from CHINESE merchants, that they will come here
for twelve dollars but to reduce labor to this point
the supply must be ample.
The government has managed the Chinese i'm
migration In such way as to help the Chinese to
ally, nevertheless it has been done, by allowing
only short supply to come in.
The writer mentioned above, thinks to Intro luce
q large number of Chinese would not benefit the
planters one lota, as they might know from past
experience On this point the writer certainly is
in error
Practical experience is one of the best of teach
ers. When the last large numbers of Chimes
were coming IN was employing on one planta-
ton 10 Chinese day laborers at twenty dollars
per month, / reduced their wages two dollars
The next month Chinese immigrants were still
arriving freely and my laborers on their own mo-
ton reduced their wages two dollars more (it was
then sixteen dollars per monthly and they boarded
themselves. l never had laborers of any kind
work better, and all went we'll until the govern
NEXT stopped their coming. They are back to the
old nguresi and now ask for two dollars more Der
month.
The arrival of Portuguese or japanese does not
AFFECT them; their own countrymen they are anx.
ious about. Plenty Cinnamon comee wages 90
low. No more Cinnamon Gomez wages 90 high"
On the other plantation am interested in the re-
suit has been about the same. have talked with
many other planters on the subject, and their ex-
perience has been similar to mine.
III the government had permitted 300 Chinese To
come each month, that number would have paid n
steamer 10 pass this way and drop them regularly,
Chinese wages would now be fourteen dollars per
month, and at the same time the planters would
be glad to take the Japanese as fast as the govern
ment could get them here.
At the present price of sugar, with rigid economy
and good crops could pay sixteen dollars per
month for Chinese labor and make expenses. INF
an additional six dollars per month, means very
serious loss to me, if continue the business long
and no relief can be had. This relief it is in the
power OF the government to grant, and without
interfering with Portuguese or Japanese immi
grafton, or using any money
Inc Pfemiers plea that friendly powers object
to more Chinese coming here, think is not we'll
taken. Two OF three thousand Chinese, more or
less, they would not notice. We must look the
situation straight in the fAce and lock the stable
door before the horse is stolen.
Reports from the sorghum yield in the United
States, are very favorable. They make large prof
its, and will soon be able to make a large portion
OF the sugar consumed there. The late treaty with
Mexico, also opens up large sugar cane district
that Will be cultivated at once. With good farm
labor, cheap transportation DC, most of the
sugar needed can be furnished at low prices; with
out taking into consideration the beet sugar crops
OF Europe. Some Of our planters are now on a
tour of inspection in Mexico for purposes of bust
ness; and from appearances more NAV follow
The government being without surplus money
and without credit brings to my mind what a
small country Hawaii is-not so large in popula-
ton and wealth, as many counties in the United
nN hfnTrF L. Al.
ment. Hawaii's Ruler and Royal family cost her
5000 people, much more than the Ruler of the
United States, with about 100000 of people,
costs her. Little Hawaii must be shy of debt, and
live within her MEANS
remember about % years ago. where the United
states was engaged in a serious family quarrel
the Republic of Mexico was largely in dNbt to
English and French citizens. This was a pretext
for those governments to send armies there to col
lect the debt. The English withdrew. The French
continued and changed the form of government.
Finally on account of the influence of the United
States, the French armies withdrew and the old
government was restored If our great neighbor
the United States, should become Indifferent as TO
Hawaiis welfare on account of debt or inability
to govern herself, and allow the English protect
crate to extend over these islands-tLrf would end
Hawaiian Independence.
One writer says in the p. c. AdreTfiseJ. that
the Chinese are bHHHe,s, commit all kinds of
crimes, DO. IL is admitted that there are large
number of Chinese in Honolulu. BY referring TO
the records of the police court according to their
numbers, the Chinese are the most law abiding of
any nationality there We find it so on planta-
tons-less crime, and more easily controlled, con-
sidering numbers.
1t is also inferred by one writer that the Ha-
waIian kingdom is not sugar plantation; that it
would be country without the sugar industry
can see nothing inviting here if the sugar indus
try IS stopped. The population would rapidly de-
crease; stock farms that now flourish would be
neglected; the fine steamers that connect our isl
ands would be withdrawn, and the revenue for the
remaining might go back to poi and fsH live as
they did in early times, before the days of the
great hamehamehas. No. such a condition of
things must not come! Give us plenty of labor of
all kinds; then it will be cheap and we can 90 on
developing the country, take up the thousands of
acres now suitable for agriculture, and make il
yield its abundance in various ways.
Let the government be economical and well adj
mlnistered; then the revenues would be sufficient
money in the treasury, and the government would
have good credit. W. Y HoayER.