The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-31
JAPANESE LABOR.
Why the japanese We're
Withdrawn from Paia
Plantation.
Steps Taken by the Government to
Restore Harmony and Pro
tect the Laborers.
Mr.. JOmO. Ausfin's RePOrf-Japanese
PetItiOns-Insumcien Quarters
- Constant III-Usage
Vital Statistics.

| immigration, Mr.. Attwater, who had them
transferred to the immigration Depot at
Kakaako. These people came from the Paia
plantation, East Maui, of which Mr.. E. NJ
Walsh is the working manager but Paia,
! and the adj joining plantation of Hamakua-
poke, are under the general management
and direction of Mr.. 81. p. Baldwin, who
resides on the latter. Messrs. Castle u
Cooke, of Honolulu, are agents for these
plantations.
The withdrawal of contract labOrers in a
| body from plantation is so unusual an oc-
! currence as to excite surprise and give rise
| to comment. And the fact that this has
| occurred SO soon after they began work
| renders it all the more remarkable. For
the sake of presenting all the facts in the
case we made inquiries at the proper quar-
ters and were courteously informed of the
! entire circumstances, brief narrative of
which we herewith present.
The Japanese went to Paia early in March
Soon after complaints began to reach the
immigration Department of dissatisfaction
with their general treatment. Specific
grievances were also alleged. 1t was hoped,
however, that better understanding would
be reached, and to that end His Excellency,
Mr.. Gulick, President of the Board of Immi-
grafton, commissioned Mr.. w. R. Austin, a
well-known lawyer now in Boston, to go to
Paia and inquire into the alleged grievances,
and endeavor to bring about better under
standing between the manager and the
Japanese. Mr.. Nakamura, the Japanese
Consul, and Mr.. Nakayama now chief in
spector of Japanese contract labor, accom-
panied Mr.. Austin upon the occasion of his
first visit He took voluminous testimony,
which is on file. 1t was expected, as result
of his Intervention and advice, that every
thing would work smoothly. Not SO, how
ever. The friction increased, and soon after
eliminated in what may be termed riot.
1t appears that Manager Walsh, disregard
ing the instructions as to the treatment of
Japanese laborers contained in Consult Gen
-. z--.4-.---.-~,-l.-- t,I~mV0rsI undertook
to g break them in - after his own fashion,
putting them at work which they did not
understand and acting generally in a very
peremptory and overbearing manner. The
Japanese had never handled team of draft
bullocks, had never seen a bullock in all
probability till they reached the plantation,
yet they were expected to yoke them as
readily as if they had been accustomed to
bullock driving all their lives. This was
the occasion of the riot in question.
A Japanese laborer was set to yoke team
of oxen, and being afraid of the horns of the
animals he shrank back to save himself.
Kanaka driver thereupon seized him and
dragged him forward. The Jap resented this,
whereupon the driver hit him on the head
with yoke, cutting him severely. His fellow
COuntrymen then made common cause with
their wounded companion, and, retaining
their field implements, crowded around, but
did not offer any violence. They refused to
return to work, however. Mr.. Chilling
worth, Deputy Sheriff, was then sent for
and he asked them to go to his Office and
state their complaint, telling them, how
ever, that they could not enter armed with |
any weapon. Accordingly they left their |
knives, ETC., outside. These were promptly |
removed, and the Japanese found themselves
powerless, as they had antagenized the
other labor on the plantation, the trouble in
this case not being directly with the man
ager or Iunas. For refusing to work they
were each fined So.
This disheartened the men very much, and
they made strong complaint to the Japan
csc Consul, who, in turn, presented it to the
President of the Board of immigration.
Mr.. W. R. Austin was sent up second time
to investigate and smooth over matters, and
once more it was thought that good under
had been established between the
manager and the Japanese laborers on Paia
plantation. But as soon as the Commits
sioner's back was turned matters reverted
to their former unsatisfactory condition. In
this connection, however, it should be added
that in every instance the complaints of the
Iaborers were substan TALLY verified upon in
Just about the time of the arrival of the
Tamashiro Maru information was received
hat three Japanese laborers were sick on
2aia plantation, and that certificate had
3een given by DIR. Charles G. Bull, q Gov
,rnment physician, that they were not sick
nd were fit for work. 1t was further stated
hat they were taken before the local magis-
rate who gave them to understand that they
you'd have to work without further ado,
nd fined them So each. They positively re-
used to work, however, whereupOn they
yere committed to prison at Waikiki and
emit there in charge of two native police
len. They were eight hours and half
alking the distance, which is short thirteen
lilies, under a midsummer sun; they were
Iso whipped and kicked on the way, and I
rrived in a state of high fever, the pulse of II
ne of them being $50. On their arrival
le Government physician pronounced Y
lem very sick, and sent them into the hos c.
tal, where one of them died, the two sur a
Vors coming to the city. They were sent Il
} the Queens Hospital, where they still re- Il
ain, one suffering from kake, the other W
ON fever. fC
Matters had now become serious at Paia. d.