The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-18
NOT YET DECIDED
Portuguese Government
Considering Petition.
Factors Creating Desire of Hawai-
ian Colony to Emigrate
to Timur.

The Portuguese in Hawaii are al
ready feeling the competition of the
| japanese in branches of work in which
they are engaged in the Islands. This
is one of the causes which induced
them to become enthusiastic over the
| idea of emigrating to Timur, when ne
gotiations were opened with the Portu,
guesa governor Of that colony.
The governor shows great enthu-
siasm in the matter and has had some
correspondence relative to inducing
| Portuguese in the Islands 10 become a
part of his colony. The Portuguese
here asked for detailed information,
which they now await with great anx>
iety. They also applied to the home
Government, through their Consul Cen
eral, to ascertain if aid could be given
them for transportation.
The Consul General, at their request,
met several of those prominently in
terested in the movement on Sunday,
and communicated tethem all that had
been done in the matter. According TO
official dispatches no definite action
has yet been taken. The Consul showed
them that the Government at Portugal
had been fully informed of their de,
sires. He also showed them the an
swer he had received from his Govern
ment stating that they had taken the
matter into earnest consideration, Off
aso I. Il g NJ
Portuguese here, the Government
awaited more detailed information be-
fore deciding exactly what to do.
The Consul General was asked by the
Advertiser why the Portuguese in Hal
wall desired to leave the Islands for
Timur. He said that, although he con-
sidered from a general point of view,
and with full knowledge Of their con-
dition, that the majority of the Portu-
guese were better off here than the
same corresponding class was in their
own country, at the end Of the Is years,
during which the Portuguese had been
tried as laborers in Hawaii, the weaker
element among them had shown itself.
This element is made UP principally OF
day laborers. They depend almost, il
not quite, entirely upon their daily
earnings for sustinence, and they are
the ones who naturally show dispo>
sition to try a new country. At present
there is a scarcity of work in town for
the Portuguese. Their benevolent So
ciety is helping them by giving them
passages to the other Islands, where
there is work, and in various other
| ways.
The Consul said further that he had
been informed by the proper local au-
| liberties, with whom he had consulted
on the subject of the scarcity OF work
| for the Portuguese, that go per cent. Of
| the laborers employed on the public
works in Honolulu are Portuguese and
| that native Hawaiians who are apply
| ing for aid are in need of work. This is
! but the natural consequence when
many day laborers settle in the towns
where there is a limited supply OF
work.
Another element in the present con-
dition is the uncertainty of finding
work on the plantations, where the
large number of Japanese give the
planters the liberty of choice of labor,
The Portuguese with large families not
only do not receive very encouraging
| pay, but are also not as much desired
as Iaborers by the planters, because Of
their large families.
The Consul said that he was sur
prised to see at the meeting among
| those who showed disposition to emil
CRATE to Timur a very good class OF
Portuguese who have certainly pros
pered here. Some Of them showed in
the matter a pleasing sentiment of
patriotism. Others had a desire to see
new lands and visit new countries, and
all exhibited a realization OF the pres
ence of so many Japanese laborers in
this country who compete directly with