The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-08
PACIFIC LABOR TRAFFIC.
QUEENSLAND VOTES TO REVIVE THE
NEE1RIOUS TRADE
Islanders May Re Imported Tor Tea Yea~s
60 Work on tho Sugar Plantations-ren.
lures ofthe Trade hat Made the woriS
Indignant and Led to Its Suppre ssiou.

Islanders May Re Imported for Tea Yeavs
60 Work on tho Sugar Plantations-ren.
lures ofthe Trade tha Made the woriS
Indignant and Lea to Its Suppression.
Tho surprising news comes from Queens.
| land. Australia. that Parliament has passed
| bill permitting for ton years tho importation
| Of Kanakas for work on tho sugar plantations.
The Government has approved tho bill in spite
| Of largo public meeting at Brisbane to pro.
| tost against tho renewal Of the black labor
traffic. which was prohibited by law five years
| ago on account OF the terrible abuses that
marked the system Bishop Barry OF Queens.
| land has written q letter in which he SAYS
| there Is the greatest fcar that this unhappy
revival OF tho KanaKa labor traffic will inflict
| great suffering on tho natives. although tho
Premier OF the Queensland Government SAYS
| stringent regulations will prevent violence.
| fraud. and Injustice. All who know the pnot
history of the labor traffic. however. bcllcvo
| that even the most careful regulation will fail
| to prevent terrible abuses.
| Tho traffic is removed because tho Queens.
| land planters say 1t is impossible to get tho
| help required TO raise and euro for thoir crons.
| White mon cannot labor IN the sugar fields
under tho tropical sun. II has boon suggested
| that supply OF labor be obtained from
southern India. bat tho PLANTERS. backed hy
tho Government, have decided that It n
traffic. Tho discovery OF large arcn in
Queensland suitable for sugar planting was
tho event which gave the greatest impctusto
tho trade. Laborcrs wcro wanted also for tho
cotton plantations in Hi and other South Sea
islands. but tho greatest demand cuino from
Queensland. Tho trade was very brisk until
about ten years ngo. when tho scandal Of It's
management became known tho wo-ll over.
and many restrictions were placed on labor
.,-l,t H.. a. h.
traffic. Tho caGse OF its abolition flvo
years ago was tho shooting OF con-
siderable number OF islanders whi!o
one Of the labor vessels wus making ur err
GO. The ignorant savnGes. lGrcd or dragged
from their homes. were never paid anything
T mentonns nth hs TIE nhiorssts il
The work on the cotton and sugar Plantations
was very Severe for IN en- who had n.ver worket
q very common cause OF death among New
Hebrides natives.
Many stories have been told Of tho articles
to- to- III thsi r. yssssis; Mr Eo%iiy. NE Sss
trniTlc. says that for years there was mucn
rivalry between the Queensland and FIJI ships;
imaxna aS' IN Veil" tSilins tic natives Horrible
stories OF Queensland. and y Queensland Cap
TIN would return t tine e1tmp,mGnt sS nns
friends Of Queensland or FIJI. The mt NATIVES
Question TD% paV Would be- Where sh f some
II a Fiji shin. the rcGly would be" FILL 4. on
hard as they could tic. crow would not waste
time in going ashore; hut would nut to sea
much rs pos Sihlc. ann whom they returned to
Queensland. Then they would I'll UP with n
load of natives and bear them on to Fiji. That
was very common dodge. ana made great
some white employees were callod recruit
an my Mere Il great y
il all sorts of tricks Z, attract tho attention Of
the n,s sayases Ono %f them wor. very ecce1,.
consisted OF II conical shaped cardboard hat.
flowing eaie" robs Is. and black mask oyer
waterproof hug, and he would occasionally re-
fresh himself with hucketful Of salt water.
y was paurd Lax 'I E only IN obect
was to collect tho natives around him and per-
One resruter was ext cxt1cm ne, successful IN
making the snvnESs laugh and persunding
t" the use so OF Srce he believed IL h%%S eus
gerry, not in violence. Another man. whenever
oss Scas the hsr so woSa Ssa
sent back to the ship. with orders to come
ashore again as soon as fair crowd o.
rd s6f 6y nsct t. pull sf O.
irresistible, curiosity, gathered around him.
GrnyeIy to light his matches. After while be
would appear to notice the people and would
shake hands all around Then he would walk
iormance that made everybody laugh:
When tho boat returned it would lind
him surrounded by IL crowd. and everybody
immensely pleased with the tricks the recruit
or was neforming;: Often he he, would SI persuade
they were shut UP in the hold. Sometimes ho
would tell them that he was coming again
next day. and that they must bring al their
lIe had recourse to that plan when the crowd
Of men around him was not large enough to
nj tho vessel. The recruiters always received
big wages. and they We're one OF the most dis
graceful features Of the traffic.
Now that the trade is to be resumed. 1t is
certain that tho Queensland Government will
have to dvest it Of its dishonest and cruel fca.
lures or there will be protest from Christcn-
dom that will mako it very unpleasant to carry
on the business,