The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-10-13

SOME remarks made at the Planters
meeting relative to the importance OF la
borers were eminently to the point. The
speakers on the subject were Messrs. II. Z.
Baldwin, W H. Bailey, j. NJ Horner and
Thurston. They all seemed united in the
opinion that more care should be taken by
those who undertake the gathering Of men
for immigration Mr. Horner cited two
cases in which men had been sent to him,
who from chronic disease, never had done
days work since they came TO him, yet
he had had to pay their passage OF $50
each, had had to pay their expenses IN
Honolulu, had had TO feed them and pay
their doctors bills. Other cases of sim
liar character were cited, in which men
physically incapable Of work had been for
warded to the plantations.
With regard to the japanese, 1t seemed
10 be the general opinion that neither
Consul Irwin, nor the Government had
dealt fairly by the planters. The japanese
bv the ToD0Sljr0 Md1U were not all agri-
cultural laborers. On Maui plantation
it was discovered that one OF the laborers
had never done a hard days manual labor
IN his life. He was a defaulting bank
cashier When il was discovered what he
was. and that he was unable to do field
work, he was returned TO the Government
who had promised to refund the money,
but had not done so up TO date Again,
another set had proved 10 be professional
jugglers, who on their arrival at the plant
alton, at once went TO work and gave a
performance. for which they collected
funds When this was put stop to they
I..,,..,. -, 1l.,, mud l,oI c,ufipy1ad 10 rri,rp
trouble ever since.
The conclusion come to was that planters
should protect themselves by written
agreement. which should prevent their
being imposed upon and no doubt some
such agreement Will be drawn up before
the meetings come to a close.
sa
Since writing the above we have received
a letter by the steamer from Kauai. This
calls attention to the Japanese labor ques
tion The writer, manager of a planta
ton says:
We have now, altogether, 3G males women,
and three children.
ON the 9th Of October we had II cases of sick
ness of which cases were syphilis, , cases dropsy
from bad food or benberi and cases Indigestion,
case was woman, and one case was father who
stopped with his sick boy. Total II cases.
This was not an exceptional day.
The following suggestion is made:
II Is suggested in connection with this, that 1t
Is the duty Of the Government TO have all immi-
grants imported by the Board of Immigration
thoroughly examined not only before leaving their
country, but their arrival in Honolulu by the
physicians of the Board of Health, and have all
who are sick ur diseased placed in the Hospital
aud treated at Government expense and Planters
in their applications TO the Board of Immigration
might state that they will take only healthy peo-
pie, aud refuse any who are not so. And as the
present Government Is so untrustworthy the Plan
iors' Agents in Honolulu should employ doctor TO
examine the laborers after they are delivered TO
them and return TO the Board of immigration all
who are diseased.
Employing physician to do this would be
great saving of expense 10 the Planters.
The planters viii not separate without
seeing that this wrong is riglted.