The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-09-01
INDIANS FOR HAWAII.
MIR. Marsdcn's Fsvorable Report
Cherper Labor fog sugar PiaDta-
lions.

MIR. Marsden's Favorable Report
Cheeper Labor fOc sugar. PiaBta-
lions.
Joseph Marsden, member of the
Hawaiian Legislature, who some
months since was specially commits
stoned to visit India and other coun-
tries in the interest of labor for the
Hawaiian sugar plantations, arrived
here on the Rio Janeiro yesterday.
He went for the organization of plan
tiers known as the Hawaiian Planters
Labor and Supply Company, of
which he is member, and was gone
altogether eight months. He spent
three months in India, month in
Hongkong, and visited Batavia and
Java, and investigated the labor re-
sources there.
Mr.. Marsden was seen by Chron-
ice reporter last night. He said he
had not gone to these countries to at
once engage laborers but to investi
gate the matter, find out what labor
ers could be got for, whether they
would stand the change, and make a
report to the planters. He said that
lately the Hawaiian sugar interests
had assumed serious situation be-
cause of the tariff changes and the
high price of labor. Some of the
sugar-growers had closed down and
all had to figure closer than formerly.
''lnda | found wonderful field
for labor, continued Mr. Marsden,
"but it is doubtful if the English
Government will allow any Of the ma
tives to 90 to the islands. | found
that it would not let them 90 to any
country with which it had no treaty.
1t happens that it has none with Ha-
waii, so if We get any native Indians
it appears that we will first have to
enter into a treaty. England de-
mands treaty covering emigration
of subjects because Of former abuses.
| will make favorable report, and
the matter of negotiating a treaty
can Zen be consideFad. You UNDER
stand that by the Hawaiian laws the
Chinese are practically restricted
from coming to the islands. As it is
we pay more for common labor than
in California. We pay S35 and $40
a month for white teamsters besides
board and lodging, We also pay
from $40 to S26 for ordinary labor,
besides free house, free schools,
free medicine, and all the taxes. In
Demerara this same kind of labor is
paid only 20 cents a day, and the
laborer boards himself This kind
of competition our sugar growers
cannot stand.
II visited all that part Of India
south of Calcutta and Bombay. |
found that in the hill country the
laborers were only getting s cents a
day. They live 5000 to 10000 feet
high, however, and cannot staud our
climate. Up there they are very rosy
and robust and capable of carrying
great loads. A common two days
work is to carry chest of eighty
pounds of tea twenty miles over
frighttuIIy rough mountains and re-
turn the second day with the empty
box. They are of medium height,
and the women do much of the car
rylng.
"In the lowlands are the typical
Hindoos, very black and strong, and
with their arms, legs, nose and ears
tinkling with jewelry. These are the
kind | found would best suit us. |
talked with their principal men, and
they all tod me they thoughr it de-
sirable for many of their people to
migrate. As it is they have hard
work to live; 50 or So is little for
tune. Crowded as the country is
with 800. 900, 600 people, famine
even now threatens them in places.
| was much impressed with these
people from labor standpoint. They
will just suit us. The climate and
everything Of Hawaii are admirable
for them. They would not cost us
more than ) or 20 cents a day"
Mr. Marsden will proceed to Ho
noluu 10y the next Steamers. f.