The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-27

quIFeLnenks OF planners, as We'll as 10 make
up for the constant withdrawal of Chinese
returning to their own land, 1t loiH be Of
great advantage and almost necessity that
the present restrictions upon Chinese imn1i-
grafton be removed, so far as may be neces-
sar-y to make up the present and prospective
deficiency Of labor.
This was the policy of the Planters
Labor and Supply Company on Octo-
Der %, 1884, and the Gazette we'll
knows that it has not been changed
one iota since. The P. L. & S. Com
pany's letter was replied to by His
ExceIlency Mr. Gibson, in the alb
sence OF the President of the Board of
Immigration. He stated that the
Government had the most explicit
assurances that 5000 Japanese immi-
grants, of whom fOur-fifths would be
men, might be expected in 1885, "if
the Government should find itself III
a position to provide for their l'as
sages to this country and for other
incidental expenses In addition,
the Government had been informed
that 600 first-class sugar laborers
might be expected within a few
weeks from that date. "The numbers
indicaI Ell ought to suffice for all possi-
BILE wants of the plantations" His
Exec lency added. He next indicated
that it was possible the Government
might not be able to make provision
out of the revenue for this immigra-
ton, but as many would be brought
as the means at its disposal would
allow. He then asked for labor
estimate for the year, and deprecated
the removal of the restrictions on
Chinese immigration as "involving
grave national consequences" 81
hope that it will not be necessary Che
added) to retreat from a policy which
has been viewed with so much salts
faction by the people generally, and
also been cordially approved by
friendly powers; and am persuaded
that it will not be necessary if the
immigration of Japanese can be car
ried out with the split with which it
is being initiated"
We have thus the Administra-
ton standing firm against throwing
down the barriers against indiscrim-
mate Chinese immigration, which
the Planters Labor and Supply Com
pany manifestly wanted to have done.
1t is thus clear that the patrons of the
"Gazette" wanted to "Asiaticise the
Hawaiian Islands, while the Gov
eminent wanted to prevent this if
possible. That was the state of the
case on October %, 1884
At the session of the 2. l.. S. Co.,
at which this letter was read, an in
structive debate followed. Mr.. ]. NJ.
Horner put his own construction
upon it. Mr.. iona. Austin said the
planters were in e1tremts. They
needed labor; and If the Government
did not seem willing to help the
planters in this matter, 9 thought
some plan might be concerted that
might make it unpleasant for the
Government. If the planters were
not permitted to help themselves in
this matter, they must decide upon
some plan for influencing those who
have influence with the Government
in removing, to- some extent, the
present restrictions upsn admitting
Chinese labor. ATr. Macfie thought
they had leaned too much on the
Government for the Introduction of
labor. Colonel w. T. Allen said that
bringing Japanese here would
be an experiment. AT present
what the planters really need is an
immediate supply of Chinese. Mr..
A. H. Smith thought there were men
enough now if they would work.
What they wanted was cheap labor.
If 1000 men were dropped down now
it would be better than to have 5000
strung along through the year. Mr..
Davies reminded members that
they had committed themselves to
the statement that they wanted men,
and it was misleading for planter to
say that he or they did not want
men. He did not think they could
call that class who demanded higher
wages than could be afforded " labor"
We condense this report from the
Planters Monthly" to show the
policy of the planters as opposed to the
policy of the Government-an antag
onism which is more explicitly
stated in the Secretary's annual re-
port to the Company, and more es-
pecially so in the report of the Com
mittee on Labor, signed by Messrs.
iona. Austin, w. o. Smith and Jno.
NJ. Horner. The latter document
states; Many petitions have been
made to the Government to open the
doors to free Chinese immigration
until the supply shall equal the de-
mand, upon fair terms. AS yet the
Government has not made favorable
answer to these petitions. Tt seems
to your Committee that that would
be a remedy. Can it be made avail
able Pr All this authoritatively
proves that it was, as it now is, the
policy of the party which sustains
the {" Gazette" for political aims, to
flood the country with Chinese labor,