The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-15
7 FL Il
Pacific Commercial Advertiser
SATURDAY August 18th.
THE CONTRACT LABOR CIRCULAR.

The circular issued by the Minister
of the Interior, addressed to the en-
ployers of contract labor, is timely
and well-considered public document.
that stage when it has become neces-
sary to define, with the utmost clear
ness, the rights and obligations of
contract labor in this Kingdom.
There has been prevalent idea that
when the Government assigns labor
immigrants to plantation its con-
nection with them is at an end, and
that thenceafter they are at the abso-
Lutte direction of their employers, sub
ject to payment of wages and other
specific dues. This is very serious
mistake, as His Excellency Mr..
Gulick points out. The employer is
simply the agent of the Government
for specific purpose, and it is the
duty of the Government to see that
contract laborers suffer no injustice
at the hands of overseers, but that
they are well and kindly treated.
This point is very explicitly made in
the circular referred to, and we hope
that it will be understood and acted
upon in spirit of intelligent appre-
citation of its purpose and scope by all
employers of this class of labor.
AS a rule, there has been little to
complain of on the part of contract
Iaborers on these Islands. Their per
sonal welfare has been cared for, and
they have been made as comfortable
as circumstances in most cases would
admit of. Nevertheless, there were
exceptions; and it is these exceptional
cases which render it necessary to en-
force general rule that otherwise
might have been safely left in it's APP
plIcation to the discretion and
good sense of the employers them
selves. But the Government is
bound to keep faith, not only with
the contract laborers themselves,
but with the Governments through
whose acquiescence and consent their
services were obtained, and therefore
it has become imperative to show,
once for all, that no arbitrary or ur-
just treatment will be tolerated.
This, as we understand it, is the
purpose and policy of the circular.
1t is in no sense a reflection upon the
great body of planters and other en-
ployers of labor in the country, nor
indeed does it reflect upon anyone.
Personal violence, except in self-de-
tense, is absolutely prohibited; and
the arrest of a laborer for violating
his agreement is forbidden, except
upon the report of the Commission
of Inspection of contract labor The
creation of a Special Commission of
Inspection for Japanese laborers, and
another similar Commission for
Portuguese laborers and others,
appears to US to be a practical
and necessary measure. These
Commissions will hear all com
plants of employers and laborers,
and will adjust each case amicably
if possible. The Minister of the
Interior anticipates that there will be
little or no necessity for any official
intervention on the part of foreign
representatives after these Commits
sions of Inspection have been at
work, and we are of the same opinion.
1t rests mainly with employers to
make these arrangements successful,
as the Minister of the Interior re-
marks, and from the intelligence and
high character of the planters as a
body, we feel confident that they will
make a cordial response to His Ex-
celIency's appeal to their sense Of
Justice and honor. This, doubtless,
will be the conclusion arrived at by
the Planters Labor and Supply Com
pany at its adjourned meeting on the
18th instant.
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