The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-24
WHAT HE LEARNED OF LABOR
CONDITIONS ON HAWAII.
Thinks that White Labor Can Be En-
ployed to Better Advantage on the
Plantations than Asiatic.

Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald. of
San Francisco, returned this morning
on the Kinau from ten days eXplor-
alton of Hawaii, with his mind made
the work required on the plantations,
but in the long run, can do it more
eheaply and satisfactorily than the
hordes of Asiatics now employed in
the cane and coffee fields. Through
the courtesy or the various planters
on the island Mr.. Fitzgerald and his
secretary, Mr. Greene, were supplied
with all the data they could possibly
desire, and were thus enabled to gain
an insight into the question of labor
under the existing conditions that
they might not gain otherwise
through months of patient study and
observation.
Everywhere" said Mr.. Fitzgerald
this morning, "we were met with
great frankness on the part of the
planters, and unexpected courtesies
were thrust upon us. No where did
we meet with the slightest opposition
Or reticence. The planters seem more
than anxious to secure the white
labor, but they do not seem yet to
grasp the idea of how to bring about
a change in the existing conditions.
could have taken orders for a number
of white laborers, but it would have
been no use. If this change is to be
effected, it must be done in a system
attic and businesslike way by the peo-
pie here. The change cannot be sud
den and radical; it must be brought
about slowly, but steadily and firmly
1t is no great undertaking, after all,
when properly commenced.
"In my opinion white labor can per.
form eighty per cent of the labor on
the plantations without any hardship
! whatever, and all of it without exces
sive conditions. Even the much talked
of labor of clearing the land can bt
performed by white men, and l vii
guarantee that the land will be much
better cleaned than it is by these little
brown fellows. From what | have
seen of this cheap labor. it is the
cheapest kind of labor-but not fol
the employer. A white man could dc
twice the work | have seen these Chin
ese and japanese doing, in less time
and with more satisfactory results
without grumbling, or considering
himself overworked. But he could not
live as they donor could any civilizaC
human being.
THE labor question here is simpl,
one. In California we had to pas.
twenty-one laws before we could Grad
icate the many evils that had crep
into our system there. There art
none of those bad features here. Their,
is no need of legislation. The onl,
questions to be considered are tn,
amount of pay and the ability of tn,
laborer to do the work. The employ,
can live better here even than in Cal
lloihlti anu liicit 10 ho pueSIioh Du
that he will receive his pay if he per
forms the work required of him.
mo class of people recognize th'
necessity of "A change in the labor con
ditions better than the coffee planters
Coffee planting is now beybnd the ex
perimental period, and within tn,
next few years there will be from 500
to 10000 acres of land producing cof
fee. There is practically no labor t.
handle such crop, nor can there b'
under the present conditions. TIL,
picking season lasts but three months
at the most, and during that perioC
the ratio of labor necessary to handl
the crop must be increased from t.
s to /. If whites were employed OF
the island on the sugar plantations
their children could do the picking
The coffee planter is powerless t.
help. 1t all rests with the suga
planter.
"Now is the time for action. Della
at this time may ruin the agriculture
industries of the islands. The longe
it is put off the harder it will be t
change the conditions"