The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-08-12
Once of the Board of Immigration.

His Maiesty's Government are anxious to secure
the successful settlement in this country of Por
tuguese, Japanese and other agricultural laborers,
and the Legislature by its liberal appropriations,
and in the discussion which occurred in regard to
immigrants of various nationalities that come TO
settle here has manifested a similar feeling. EI-
pressions of public opinion both from those spec
tally interested in the question Of plantation labor
and from other classes of the community have
forcibly endorsed this desire the expression of
| a sound national policy. The arrangements for
securing this settlement have been perfected, but
in order to obtain satisfactory results it will be
necessary that the needs and requirements and
the peculiaritieS of the several races of men who
| come to this country in the hope of thereby bet
tering their condition, should be studied by those
with whom they are brought into contact as en-
ployers.
Peculiarities of race require consideration. For
instance, it must be evident to all who have had
| occasion to employ the japanese that they are
eminently q teachable race and that Mt the same
time it is only by kind and just treatment that
they can be successfully dealt with. Such treat
ment is indeed essential to success in the manage
ment of immigrant foreign laborers generally. In
view of this fact it is we'll that the bases of the
agreements which exist between His Majesty's
Government and the several Governments inter
esed in this subject, should be clearly understood
| by all employers of laborers who are serving
| der original contracts with the Board of Immgra-
/ ton.
The understanding with the Japanese Govern
ment is that while the immigrants remain under
their original contracts they are to be under the
| immediate guardianship of the Government and
that the planters to whom their contracts are as
signed are the agents of tue Government, the lat
ter being responsible on the original contracts ut
points. This provision, which Is but definite aud
legal definition of the contents of the contracts
| themselves, will apply equally to Portuguese and
| all other laborers who are performing their org
| inal terms of service under contracts to which
| the Board is party.
From this understanding it follows that on tue
Government rests the duty of enquiring into, and
endsavoring to settle in an amicable manner, all
| complaints and differences that may arise between
| the actual employer and the laborer. 10 ensure
| the fulfllment of this duty, the Government has
| decided to establish under the Board of lmmigra-
/ ton Special Commission of Inspection of Japan
| ese aborers (of which Mr.. NakaYama is at pres
ent the chief also Special Inspection OF Poru-
| guese and others, the whole system being under
| the direction of an Inspector General, who viii
receive his orders from the Board of immigration.
Under this arrangement the Government will be
| able to place Inspectors and Interpreters on the
principal Islands.
TO these Commissions of Inspection, all COM
plants on the part of employers of immigrant Ia
bOrers are to be made. The laborers themselves
will be instructed las the Japanese have already
been) to make any complaints they may have to
these Inspectors, rather than to the representa-
tiyes of their own Government, the two fold aim
being to obviate the necessity of the several rep
resentatlyes making official complaints and also
to secure the prompt settlement of all disputes
that may arise between employers and employed
| without need of reference to the Courts of Law.
IL is indeed fully understood that the actual en-
ployers of immigrants brought here by the Gov
eminent being virtually agents of tho Govern
ment, arrests for breach of service contracts are
not to be made without the concurrence of the
Board of immigration. The Government has
confidence that in almost all cases the action OF
the several Commissions of Inspection will render
such arrests unnecessary
II has further been distinctly considered and
determined by the Government, that no employer
or overseer Uwla) shall be permitted, under any
circumstances, Except in self-defense) to strike
or lay hands upon any contract laborer who Is
recognized as Government ward. This detern
nation is made binding by agreements to this
effect, actually entered into; and IT Is rendered all
the more important when considered IN the light
of the sensitive nature of the japanese race, in
particular, which renders ny rough-handiing OF
the laborer abOrtive, if intended to secure obedi
enCe. il must therefore DO understood by all en-
ployers that blows or other violence used against
contract laborer, except IN absolute selt-defense
will be deemed sufficient ground for the with
drawal of the assignment made to them of any
person so dealt with.
IL rosts mainly with employers TO make thesC
new arrangements successful 1t is only in detail
that they are mar, the spirit which animates thi
Government and the Governments of the severa
countries from which the immigrant laborers come
is already embodied in the laws and III the settled
| polity of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Employers have
| now before them the understanding on which they
hold the services of the immigrant laborers as
| signed to them, and if they endeavor to bring
arise with their aborers in the spirit of that un
| derstanding, they will also be acting in spirit
which will secure the cordial commentator, not
only of the several Governments interested, but OF
all enlightened nations everywhere.
CHAs. I. GULIcK.
| Minister of Interior and President
Board of Immigration.
Honolulu 10th August, 1885.