The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-11-26
The Labor Problem =" Again.
LlHlNA, November 18th, lssi

LIHLNA, November 18th, 1884.
EprroR GAzrTTEs-Tbe P. c 1drsr 'iseI, dated
November l1th, contained an article, headed " Be
witched Planters" l think the writer is not
\ planter and presume knows but little about their
business.
Labor is regulated generally by the demand and
supply; II the demand is great and the supply
short, labor will be high if the supply is ample,
wages will be low.
Chinese 20 20 other countries for fourteen dol
| lars per month and board themselves. | have il
from Chinese merchants, that they will come here
for twelve dollars but 10 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
control the labor market; no doubt unintention-
ally, nevertheless ii has been done, by allowing
| only a short supply to come in.
| The writer mentioned above, thinks to introduce
| large number of Chinese would not benefit the
planters one iota, 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-
tion reduced their wages two dollars more tit was
| then sixteen dollars per month) and they boarded
| themselves. / never had laboreTs of any kind
work better, AMI all went well until the govern
meIt stopped their coming. They are back to the
| old figures, and now ask for two dollars more per
month.
| The arrival of Portuguese or japanese does not
| affect them; their own oOuntrymen they are anI.
| iOus about. Plenty Cinnamon cOmee wages 90
| low. No more Cinnamon cOmee wages 60 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.
had tod
| come each month, that number would have paid a
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; but
an additional sir dollars per month, means very
serious loss TO me, if continue the business long,
and 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.
| The Pfemier's plea that friendly powers object
| to more Chinese coming here, think is not well
| taken. Two or 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 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 may 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 coWIitics in the United
fIss 20. tha
| ment. Hawaii's Ruler and Royal family cost her
$1,000 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.
Iremember about % years ago, where the United
States was engaged in serious family quarrel,
the Republic of Mexico was largely in debt to
| English and French citizens This was 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, account Of the intueIice 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
Hawaii's welfare on account Of debt, or inability
to govern herself, and allow the English protect
crate TO extend over these islands-hat would end
Hawaiian Independence.
One writer says in the p. c. 1dre,fisey that
/ the Chinese are bWHHeFs, commit all kinds of
crimes, 30. Ii 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-
tions-less crime, and more easily controlled con-
| sidering numbers.
| 1t is also inferred by one writer that =" the Ha-
| waIan kingdom is not a sugar plantation; that it
! would be a country without the sugar industry
can see nothing inviting here II 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 wOEld be withdrawn, and the revenue for the
1 ho Itfvtt ha fat
| remaining might go back 10 POI and nh, live as
they did in early times, before the days of the
| great Kamehamehas. No, such a condition of
things must not come! Give us plenty of labor of
all kinds; then il will be cheap and we can 80 on
developing the country, take up the thousands of
| acres now suitable for agriculture, and make it
| Weld its abundance in various ways.
| Let the government be economical and we'll ad-
ministered; then the revenues would be sufficient,
money in the treasury, and the government would
| have a good credit. W. Y. HoRSER,