Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-11-01


Iohn NJ. IIorner, A. Unna and 1heo. ~.
Davies, representing the Planters Labor
and supply Company.
GtHlifmeH-I have the honor 10 acknow-
ledge receipt Of your letter of a ins., In
which you informed me that, in addition 10 the
BOO Japanese expected next month, the planta.
tions need 1000 men within the next twelve
months, Of whom 1000 should arrive here be.
fore the end Of January, and thai an mme-
diate issuance OF permits for, say Two thousand
Chinese, would probably be sufficient TO pre-.
ven, a labor panic during the time required for
making other arrangements, and asking me for
an early announcement OF the steps which the
government can take for the relief Of the plan
ters in the matter Of labor. From my conyer-
saiion with you on Friday last gathered that
you see only one remedy, ior the difficulty
in wha, the planters appear TO BE placed, viz
The invitation by the government of 1000 vol.
untary immigrants from China, in addition to
those who are entitled 10 come under the eN-
is,ing regulations; also ihas you wish the gov.
ernment to take that course.
In reply, have to say that his majesty gov
ernmcnl has, after careful deiberaiion, decided
that it cannot take the serious step which you
urge. The anxiety manifesto by many members
Of the Planters Labor and Supply Company,
and so forcibly eNpressednyou letter renders it
my duty TO state TO you the reasons which lead
the government TO this decision. | will deal
first with the argumen, set forth in your com
municaiion. You sayihat 1000 men are wanted
before the end Of January, and express the
opinion that leave for 1000 Chinese coolies to
come here Immediately would probably be
sufficient 10 prevent a labor panic. You also
erroneouSly infer that ''the only provision"
(for the supply OF labor on which the planters
absolutely depend is The first lo, ef Geo ia
panese) laboreIs. think the planters who
desire relaxation of the restrictions on Chinese
immigrants are reckoning withou, their host, p"
insupposing that such course would result in
the introduction here OF any considerable mum
Der Of Chinese "beforc ;he end Of January:"
and. judging by the past, /, would appear TO
be very rydoubtfulwhe,hrr, II even the numberspo-
ken OF should come, the planters would secure
the service they need on their arrival
In July, 1883, in consequence OF representa-
tons similar to those now made by you, and a,
a time when the government was still in sus-
pense as to the prospect OF immigration from
Japan, permission was given to the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company and the Occidental
Oriental Company to introduce Chinese la
borers to the extent OF GOO every three
months. Notwithstanding the interest these
corporations had in the profits Of transports.
ton. six months elapsed before they were
S
consequence Of the permission ; and when, in
March and April last, large number oi
Chinese arrived in rapid succession by their
boats, after the permission had been with
drawn, the government felt constrained to ad
init them in consequence OF the circumsiantia
statements made by the agents OF these com.
panies, that laborers could only be success
fully recruited during the earlier months O
the year, that a large number OF travelling
agents are required to get them together, and
that the men then arriving had really been Sc
cured in pursuance oi the original permission
| aud could not be earlier shipped. tSee the ap
pendix to my report to the legislature. as min
istcr Of foreign affairs, 1854, p. los. The
most, therefore, that could be expected from
the relaxation Of existing rules would be th'
arrival Of immigrants in March and Apr
next, with probability Of even further delay.
The experience OF last year has furlhe
shown that the admission Of between 2,oos
and 1000 Chinese Was Of no immediate bench
to planters. Although detained by the gov
eminent tr some days, hrst for necessary
quarantine, and afterwards for the production
Of assurances that they would no. become va
grants, mo ne Of oflhesemmigrants would en,erini'
engagements TO work for planters, AND II wa,
only after some time and aiter the arrival OF
number Of Portuguese immigrants, that th'
labor market was affected by their presence
I, app,ars, therefore, doabuul whether III
admission Of 1000 Chinese would give 10 sh'
plantations an increased service of a,ooo ls
oorers or anything ike that number. On th'
other hand, II appears to be certain that, will
proper effort, the number OF labofers yoi
speak Of a. being needed may be obtained
J from Japan, aud thai too, more promptly thar
from any other source. have alsady states
that your inference in iespWt TO the proper
|, ton and progress OF this immigration is Al
erroneous one. Ia my former letter I CAV
you the assurance thar as man,
! japanese will be brough, here as th
means At the disposal Of the government vii
allow. II may fairly be assumed tha, withou
any peeaniay assistance from the planter. tw
OF more shipments. in addition to The one no'
expected, could be brought in during 1885,
1o the nunbes thus obtained mus, be added I
least one shipload Of Portuguese immigrant
IA large number having been leii bshind b
: the 5. S. Bordeaux; sl>o The rs,urnin
Chinese. The latter, judging hcu the Dc
will probably exceed .ooo In naznbef dunn
msnd ios passports here and ., Honskone
the year. Sew with the active eo-ePssAiso