The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-10-30
MECHANICS UNION.
A Discussion Of the Labpr Question
Last Night,

NDdJ VeltNeu Uu dCCOuuJ VI QuOl YIN
not being present. At 1850 O'Clock
Hon. Jno Phillips, president of the
Union, called the meeting to order,
about thirty-tive members being pre-
sent. Mr.. w. II. Stone, secretary,
read the minutes of the previous
meeting, which were approved. The
following gentlemen were proposed
for membership and under suspen-
sion of rules were accepted: Z.
Cronin, Mat Mccain, ii. Ii. VOTERS,
w. 6. Ashley, Alex. Lyle, j. G.
Carney, ID. Klpili, Hon. j. +. Bush
as an honorary member, and others.
Hon. J. E. Bush was asked to in
terpret the remarks of the members
and undertook the task.
The special and standing com.
mlltees having no report, .he execu
tive committee was called, when Mr..
r.. More stated that the vacancies in
that body had been filed, and as he
had been unable to attend last meet
ing, he would ask the secretary to
read the list of names as it now
stood.
President Jno. Phillips said that
was unnecessary, as the names in
full had been read at last meeting.
Mr.. More then stated that they
had met the executive committee Of
the Hui Kalaiaina and had pleas
ant conference.
Under the head of new business
the President stated that at a meet
ing Of the aforementioned committee
they had decided on a subject for
discussion for the evening, which
was the Question Of Labor. The
matter of getting labor for planta-
tions was vital one. The Planters
Labor and Supply Company had met
and advocated very cheap labor, but
a gentleman, well versed in matters
of this sort, had told him that cheap
labor was not the thing, but that with
skilled labor the work could be Just
as well accomplished, if not better.
Without going further into the ques-
ton, he would call on Capt. Jno.
Ross for his views on the matter.
Capt. Jno. Ross on rising said he
wished they had called on someone
else. He supposed that all reason
able and fair thinking men admitted
that the prosperity of the country
was owing to sugar plantations and
to an industry which has been over
looked to a certain degree-rice.
All that sugar planters think of is
their own interest, they overlook the
fact that the rice industry was suffer-
ing greatly from want of labor which
in no way conticted with the natives
or foreigners. While conceding to the
sugar planters it must not be forgotten
that other industries are suffering as
well. He also said without being severe
on the planters they owe the trou-
bic and uneasiness which they are
now experiencing to themselves.
-Four years ago when they had all the
labor they wanted and were prosper
ing on the fat of the land, they did
not think of the future. He warned
several planters of certain condi-
tions which might arrive in the
future, but was not needed. While
travelling he was reminded of their
neglect with regard to this matter,
and was told he was correct in his
supposition of impending trouble.
At the present time. owing TO the
crisis and the fall in the price of
sugar, they 1.-THE planters) must not
think alone of getting cheap labor,
but look to their extravaganza.
Wouldn't it add to their prospects to
reduce their fat salaries and relieve
themselves of their equipment of fine
carriages. Reduce extravaganza in
their own quarters before crying out
to take out of the bone and muscle
of cheap labor. Something in that
direction would bring good feeling,
instead of saying to others, the
speaker included, that we are down
on the sugar planters. Such remarks
had been made to himself and others,
but as far as he was concerned the
statement was erroneous, as he was
for the prosperity of the plantations.
There is sufficient room for other in
dustries. Only one-tenth of avail
able agricultural land is now in use.
Now if these planters were earnest
they should have entered into other
industries instead of depending on
one. They have taken their wealth
and invested in foreign corporations
Thousands of acres OF land on Ha
waii suitable for homes for the
cultivation of coffee, ramie, rice
and other agricultural pursuits. Have
they (planters) invested in or taken
the risk of the opening up these
things or the encouraging of such
undertakings? No; they take their
money abroad and do Europe, they
take their families to Paris. They
may take them to Bagdad as far as
I'm concerned, as long as they show
desire 10 do something here A
short time ago while engaged in con-
versation with the manager of
plantation he complained of his being
hard up and that he wanted 200
more field hands. The speaker put
the query, how much of a crop he
was getting. when he was answered
5000 tons with 1900 men at work.
He then said: You must have very
nhean labor vOu bava thrna aiuht he