The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-01-07
Plantation Labor.

IIanUatlOn LaDOFs
Mr.. EDITOR: In your issue of this
morning correspondent under the
nom de-plume of Z" Lyndhurst "
makes suggestion for relieving
the scarcity of plantation labor in
this country, which to the super
fetal observer may appear very
plausible, namely, to try the impor-
tation of laborers from the Island
of Java.
Now, Mr.. Editor, this question is
one of such all-absorbing interest
to the development of the leading
industry of the Kingdom, that /
crave permission to encroach upon
the valuable space of your columns
and hasten to dispel any erroneous
impressions which the letter above
referred to may create in the minds
| of your readers.
No, sir, your correspondent has
not discovered the panacea which
is to bring balm to Gilead, and if
any Hawaiian planter should run
away with the idea that here, at
last, is his salvation, and act upon
the advice, he will find himself
sadly mistaken.
"Three or four years ago." says
"Lyndhurst," in the western (sic.)
part of Queensland, Australia, such
an arrangement was made with the
Dutch, and great many men were
imported, and the results at that
time were found to be very salts
factory.
| "The character of the Javanese
workman is excellent, being hard
worker, steady and most docile. :.
"I In Australia the men are i'm
ported under strict engagements
with the Dutch Government. +.
" As the Javanese were found to
be far more preferable to the South
Sea Islanders or the Chinese, why
would it not be wise to try them in
these islands,"
/ will tell your correspondent
why, | do not think 1T would be
wise. Because, with all due respect
to HIM, I most emphatically deny
the correctness of the above state
ments in toto. At the very same
time of which he speaks. 1 was
. overseer on one of the plantations
on the Herbert River in North
Queensland, the most fertile sugar
district in Australia. The manager
: and sub manager were both men of
singular push and energy. Indeed,
, the former gentleman's well known
administrative abilities have since
then procured for him the honor
able position of Minister Of Public
Works in the Queensland Govern.
} ment. We had Javanese laborers.
The amount of trouble that they
, caused us was endless. Their in
: genuity in inventing all sorts OF
lodges to escape from work was
marvellous. They would plead
| sickness in such numbers that on
. one occasion it was feared that an
, epidemic had set in, but upon the
doctor being called in it was soon
found that they were only "sham-
ming" Desertions were numerous
and the country for miles around
had to be secured in search of the
truants. Once, in the stiffness of
the night, the whole mob decamped
en- masse, and the mounted police
constabulary had to assist in their
capture. Another night they burn
ed down their barracks, taking good
care to first save all their personal
effects. Fights were of frequent
occurrence, and more than once
' the kris was resorted to for mu-
+ tual defense. They were sullen,
, treacherous and indolent, requiring
8 incessant and vigilant watching,
and their licentious immortality
caused a great deal of loathsome
/ diseases among them. They are an