The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-01-13

/ saw Mr.. Macfie's letter on behalf of
the planters, and MIR. Kinney's reply to
it. think both gentlemen are wrong.
The plantations need no apologist for
employing such labor, skilled or other
wise, as is necessary to do their work:
and the mechanics of Honolulu cannot
do worse for themselves or their cause
than to array themselves against the
plantations. The money paid by planta-
tons for skilled labor (Which is mostly
white or native) bears a much greater
proportion to the whole expense than is
generally known. My last monthly
report shows that there was paid out
during the month to white and native
skilled labor the sum of $4,304 % and
Sl5S to three Chinese carpenters.
These last have been on the plantation
for years-as we'll as some of the white
men and natives.
But, as planter, l do not deny the
Honolulu mechanics the right to protect
themselves from the encroachments of
unnecessary servile labor, and am will
ling at ali times to aid them in any
| sensible plan that may be proposed for
redressing any real grievance. The
conditions of Honolulu are peculiar. Its
climate is favorable to the cheap living
and working of the Chinaman, and he
should be restricted whenever it is found
that he unfairly and unnecessarily COM
petes with men who are more useful to
the commonwealth. But we must not
confound real with apparent necessities.
There may be work for 100 carpenters,
or 100 blacksmiths, or 100 bricklayers
for few notwithstanding to sudden re-
| quirements in one Of those lines-but it
would be asking too much to say that
| legislation should be directed toward
| furnishing these men steady employ
ment. Skilled labor must be had when
| it is needed, and the prices to be paid
will vary according to the supply and
| demand. But on the plantations cheap
(and necessarily ignorant) labor is con-
stantly required to enable them to pro-
| duce sugar at a profit, for the reason that
all other sugar countries have cheap
labor, and if the cheap work is not done
the plantation cannot give employment
| to skilled labor.
The question is not and never has
been the restriction of the Chinese but,
how to do it? Mr.. Kinney thinks he
knows way. II the majority agree
| interests of all be protected alike, and
| n HAL Is WI SC llldll kIlaNe III
he attempts to carry his point by setting
up one class against another. l do not
ask anything for myself, as a planter.
that am not ready to grant to the hum
blest artisan. II it is necessary in orde,
to save the country, that all the
| cheap labor be sent out OF the country,
then my plantation must be wound up
and my skilled employees be dis.
| charged.
l must confess to thinking there is
rather more politics than sympathy in
the ardent love sometimes expressed fol
the mechanic. There may be excep.
tons to the rule, and it may be neces.
sarv to protect these exceptions, but gen
orally good mechanic can protect him.
self. Whether the lawyers will be able
to keep up their prices under Chinese
competition, is a matterquite beyond me
Privately hope they wont.
do not propose to discuss Mr.. Kin
ney's amendment. If the Legislature
passes it, l will vote for trying it. But