The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-08-02

month ago, when letter was re.
ceived from Mr.. R. W. Irwin Of
Toxic to the effect that for the
future the advance made to the
laborer under Clause XI. would have
to be borne by the planter. On re-
ceipt of this rather peremptory
epistle a meeting of the P. l.. & S.
Co. was held, and protesting letter
forwarded to the President of the
Board Of immigration, the grounds
of complaint being that the elimi-
mating OF Clause XI. from the con-
tract would entail an additional
cost to the planters of getting labor
ers here, Of something like 30 per-
cent, and further, if the laborer had
received the money stipulated, as an
advance, that it was only an act of
justice that he should pay it back
again. A copy of this letter, we
understand, was forwarded to Mr..
Irwin and his reply was that the
planters request could not be ac-
ceded to.
The meeting Of yesterday was
called to ask the planters if they
were willing to order more men
under the new conditions, and, as
reported elsewhere, the reply was
unanimous, that no men would be
ordered unless Clause XI. was re-
tanned. The usual complement of
men will be telegraphed for under
the conditions Of the old contract
and an immediate answer requested
as to whether they will be sent or
not.
We have visited several of the
plantation agencies and on answer
to our queries the reply was given
that they had no complaint to offer
against the Japanese authority here,
as their treatment in dealing with
japanese labor matters had always
been obliging and conciliatory, but
the trouble seemed to arise with
those who we're trying to make a
still larger profit out of this now
very lucrative business of sending
laborers here, but which if pressed
too far might result in "killing the
goose that lays the golden egg"
We have not had an opportunity
of seeing the correspondence be-
tween Mr.. r. w. Irwin and the Gov
ernment on the question at issue,
but we should think that the sort
of triple capacity which that gentle
t man is acting in would at times con-
hict when questions like the present
arise. He is Hawaiian Minister Resi-
dent and Special Agent of the
Bureau of immigration. He is ac-
lively interested in the procuring
and transportation of the imm;-
+, grants, and it is said he also pro-
fesses to be close to the japanese
Government. Now we do not wish
to do Mr.. Irwin any injustice by our
comments, but can he under existing
!. circumstances always work to the
best advantage of the Board Of I'm
migration?
: Should the planters be refused
their reasonable request and should
the present Labor Convention with
Japan be abrogated, and which we
. understand the latter Government
. have thrown out threats of doing
- more than once, would it not be well
y for the planters to be looking out
q for some other source of labor sup.
ply? A law was passed last Legisla,
ture allowing 5000 Chinese to be
=. landed on the Islands, and there are
!, plenty of responsible firms here who
would promptly act in procuring
q these men if the present Govern
o ment would give their consent, apd
; we can see no objections if proper
s restrictions are placed around suct
4 labor. The japanese laborers are
;, liked here and our relations will
= Japanese officials have been pleas
/, ant, but if our chief industry is to b.
= continually menaced by reason o
= only one source from which to draw
. :. our labor from, it is time that activ'
~ measures should be taken by tn
- planters aided by the Government
o