The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-03-22
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.
guese governor of that colony.
The governor shows a great enthu-
siasm in the matter and has had some
correspondence relative to inducing
Portuguese in the Islands to become
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 to them all that had
been done in the matter According to
official dispatches no definite action
|
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,
cially, and while DESTROYS of aiding the
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 Ha>
wall desired to leave the Islands Tor
Timur. He said that, although he con-
sidered from a general point of view,
and with a 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 new country. At present
there is a scarcity of work in town fol
the Portuguese. Their benevolent Sc
ciety is helping them by giving then
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-
thorities, with whom he had consulted
on the subject of the scarcity of work
for the Portuguese, that 60 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 il
but the natural consequence Wber
many day laborers settle in the towns
where there is a limited supply o.
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 nc
only do not receive very encouraging
pay, but are also not as much desired
as laborers by the planters, because O
their large families.
The Consul said that he was sur
prised to see at the meeting among
those who showed disposition to emf
CRATE to Timur very good class c
Portuguese who have certainly pros
pered here. Some of them showed il
! the matter pleasing sentiment @
! patriotism. Others had desire to se
new lands and visit new countries, ant
all exhibited a realization OF the pres
ence of so many japanese laborers il
this country who compete directly witt
them.