The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-11
COOPERATIVE LABOR.
A Successful Experiment. by ThOmp
SON Brothers.


The following letter, dated Kohala,
January 81, 1885, addressed to w. o.
Smith, Esq, Secretary Planters Labor
and Supply Company, appears in the
March issue OF the Planters Monthly:
DEAR SIR-Your circular containing
request of Mr.. Canavarro for information
regarding cooperative labor of Portuguese
has received our attention. We have tried
the experiment to a small extent, and
thus far it seems to work well. We have
for some time been satisfied that such a
system was the only one by which the la
borer could much increase his income and
the planter insure himself a profit. 1t
seems that a man by working hard, as the
Portuguese do, can take good care of
about fifteen acres of plant cane and the
following ratoons. Our terms have been
as follows: We furnish land free of rent;
furnish seed for the first plant; pay all
taxes; furnish agricultural tools, to be
kept in repair, returned or replaced, and
furnish such dwellings as are on the
plantation. They to furnish their own
horses and harness. We let the man who
has the contract draw to the extent OF
good fair wages so that should they at any
time prefer their wages to their contract
they may take them, but should they
continue to the harvesting of their crop, as
I no doubt they will, the money advanced to
! be paid from their portion Of the proceeds.
/ These wages to be paid when they are en-
gagged on their cane and not to be drawn
when on outside work. We pay one-half
of the harvesting, and each to pay for his
own containers. We give to the planter
/ one quarter of the entire crop and furnish
/ fumes to transport cane when possible.
You will see that upon these terms if
plant cane produces three tons per acre,
sold at $50 net, $270 is received, of which
the planter receives $67 so, or about
$1,000 on his fifteen acres, from which
deduct one-half of harvesting at $40 per
ton, 1925, and you have $775 for his first
crop, besides having at least one-third of
his time for other work, when he can COM
mand one dollar day, which would make
his income over $500, with an increase of
say one-half more after he begins to
realize from his ratoons. l have no doubt
! that we could. find such employment for
quite number good steady men. OF
course, where number of such contracts
ale made, some arrangement as regards
grinding would have to be decided upon,
as it would be impossible. or at least very
troublesome, to divide the sugar after
each grind of so small lot, so that the
density of Juice and number of CHARTERS
could be kept on record, and at the end of
the crop divide in accordance. 1t would
be better for a number of contractors to
take large piece in common, but they do
not seem to get along very kindly when
in partnership. The party giving the
land should also, in order to insure HIM
self, both in the faithful carrying out of
the contract with the mill, for which he is
responsible, and the thorough and work
manlike planting and eultivating of the
crops, have the right of general super
vision, but only to interfere when it is
necessary for him to do so to protect his
interests. I remain yours truly,
L. S. THOMPSON,
For Thompson Bros.