The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-04-01
THE LABOR QUESTION.
The Matter Discussed by Citizens and
Planters at the Foreign Office.


in the subject of immigration met at the
Foreign Office, on Monday afternoon, to
discuss the labor question. Those pre-
sent were: The Cabinet, Their Excel
lencies Jono. Austin, S. NJ. Damon, l..
A. Thurston and c. W. Ashford; Messrs.
Chas. R. Bishop, Thee H. Davies, J. B.
Atherton. H. P. Baldwin, w. F. Allen,
W.O. Smith, R. D. Walbridge, c.. F.
Homer, A. ). Cleghorn, J. n. 5. Will
liams, VIM. Blaisdell, F. NJ. Swanzy, F.
A. Schaefer, s. Parker, Z. c. Macfarlane,
NJ. Lyman, r. A. Macie, Jr., VIM. G.
Irwin, Paul Isenberg, Alex. Young, c. NJ.
Cooke, c. Bolte, Jas. B. Castle, E D.
Tenney, W. A. Bowen, G. o. Nacayama
and W. c. Merritt.
His Excellency Mr.. Thurston stated
that the meeting was an open one OF the
Board OF Immigration. Itseemed to the
Board from statistics, OF sufficient import
ance to call together those interested
financially in the labor question, so that
something could be done before the
Legislature convened. He called their
attention 10 the statistics, which showed
that there would be in the neighborhood
OF ten thousand laborers required during
the next period. He hoped those in
Vited would do most OF the talking. Mr..
Thurston read letter from the Hon. A.
MARQUES, who had given the question
great deal OF study, stating his inability
to be present owing to illness, also one
from Mr. Fairchild OF kealia. Another
letter from a plantation man was read,
which suggested that Japanese immlgra-
ton be continued, that 5000 more
Chinese be allowed TO come in, and that
Portuguese come in small numbers. 1t
further suggested that some steps be
taken 10 procure coolies from India; that
the importation OF white laborers from
Europe was impossible, and that if
Portuguese be allowed to come, their
contracts should be limited TO two years.
Mr.. ". Q. Smith thought the impor-
tauce OF the question had not been over
rated II It were a fact that 10000 labor
ers had to be got into the country, unless
something were done, they would be
obliged to have a large number OF
Chinese. This ought not to be done Tor
the future interests OF the country.
Earnest efforts should be made TO obtain
laborers other than Asiatics. A thorough
Investigation should be made before the
door was opened to Asiatics. 1t would
be temporary benefit, but ruInOus IN
the end.
Hon. H. P. Baldwin felt the great i'm
portance OF the Board taking steps to
obtain labor. There was a difference Of
opinion among the planters as to what
labor was the best The majority pre-
fer Asi4tics. High class labor cannot
stand field work in this climate. Euro
peans fret under the contract system
that holds them to work alongside Chi
nese. He thought the lower class labor
best suited for the work in this country.
He had received a letter from Col. Spald
ing, which speaks OF Italian labor. Those
from Northern Italy make good labOrers
and are used to work. They are very
Door and accustomed to cheap living.
Col Spalding had offered the men $40
and the women Sl2 3 month, and eX-
poets TO send out perhaps 400. He had
written the Colonel and told him he
would take sixty. He was glad to see
Col. Spaldlng experimenting and hoped
he would be successful. 1t seemed to
him that outside OF japanese and Chi
nese the East Indian labor was the
only one available. 1t would be well
for the Board OF immigration to investi-
gate and see what they could be got for.
He did not know OF any other source.
Mr.. T. II. Davies said he certainly
svmpathiZed with the Cabinet on this
question which had troubled both Legis-
lature and Cabinet. For many years
there had been two troublesome matters,
labor and population, and the question
was how to bring them into one remedy.
Portuguese came here so as to get a
start. but their children were not going
TO make field laborers. They had great
objections to the Chinese, but what were
they going to do without them? They
Were not gong to get laborers from India
as political reasons were in the way.
japanese made good laborers, but 1t was
not desirable 10 have them in large guam
titles. They would have TO get more
Asiatics for the ground field work. The
most practical way was TO get a definite
number of Chinese here under definite
contracts, binding them for a certain
time, and when the contract is ended
send them away. In that way any in
crease in the number of Chinese would
be avoided. They should only engage in
the work they were sent for.
Hon. c. r. Bishop agreed with Mr..
Davies They had got as many japanese
as they required. There was an objec-
ton in having too many OF one nation
atty. About going to Italy-that did not
strike him favorably. They should get
more Portuguese, japanese and some
Chinese. 1t was not desirable to get la
borers all from one country.
Hon. Paul Isenberg thought they
should not get more Chinese, unless the
laws were very strict. There were many
idEng around here who ought to be at
work. He thought some Portuguese
could be obtained. Many had gone
lately to Brazil TO work on coffee planta-
tions. II laborers could be obtained from
the north OF Italy he thought they would
be desirable
Mr.. R. A. Macfe, Jr, thought that a
variety Of labor should be introduced.
The japanese so far had worked salts
factorilv, but it was rot desirable to have
only one nationality European laborers
would never be satisfied to remain as
coolies. He had had a great deal OF ex-
pedence with European laborers, Eng
fish. Swedes. Germans. etc, and had no