The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-11-24
fhI PLANTERS HOLD
faBlR SECOND SESSION
,continued from Page 81

speaking laborers can. and have 10 be
managed. OF necessity. those igaorant
contract men were and are pu. in,o
gangs, and overlooked by an under
oyerseer, who acts under instru .ons
from n higher overseer. or the man
ager. White .abor, and especially En-
glish-speaking labor. will hot I'll. inlo
the gang system, TO be run " N ASIA
tics, or even In gangs OF them ve:,
and to be constantly followed by the
overseer. And II II no. necessary, or
II Is less necessary. that Eng ish-
speaking laborers should be handled
thus. They can receive more direct
instructions from the managemen. and
carry hem out without the constant
oversight OF an Overseer. who may be-
OF the same nationally, and OF no
greater intelligence. than themselves.
The Engllsh-speaking laborers are also
more capable than crude AsiatIcs OF
making contracts with the manage
ment 10 do certain work a, so much
per acre. or by the job. Further, such
white labOrers have open to them the
opportunity to gradually become In
dependent planters by the same means
that have enabled the Aslatic free la
DOItIs W uO SO. IL Is usuuE tut littci
line that the possibilities offer for
white, English-speaking. labor to be-
cone engaged and settled In the chief
agricultural industry OF the islands.
INDUCEMENTS TO WHITE LABOR.
Bearing upon the question of The ''in-
ducemenls offered" to white labor, in
the first place, the compensation paid
TO free laborers may be considered
In a brief report on Labor Conditions
ia Hawaii" made by the writer six
months ago (See Year Book Of the De-
partment of Agriculture by Secretary
Wilson to President Mckinley, page
57S) 1t Is stated that the average wages
per day of all laborers Is equal to that
of the mixed labor Of louisiana: and
that the wages of unskille1 Portuguese
labor on stated plantations was 43 per
cent. greater than that OF the Asiatics.
Since that date wages have risen all
round on the Islands, and today the
average wage Of all nationaliJes is not
less than 80 cents per day, whilst
plantations exceeds 800 per working
day.
The free laborers have further the
opportunity 10 become individual
planters, growing cane To be sold at
stated prices per ton To the large plan
tations; or, according 10 several forms
OF a system of profit-sharing they may
cooperate with the plantations and re-
ceive such share of the results as may
have been mutually decided upon. Tc
become Independent planters, growing
and selling the cane to the plantations
is the more popular system with tbs
men, and II Is extending with consider
able rapidly. The reason of the
greater popularity of this system liei
in the circumstances, that the men car
work not only when they feel inclined
but when their labor Is most effective
Further, they are able to engage tn
help Of their families at any season
when the work IL pressing. Moreover
this system contributes to the spirit
and possibilities of independence, mucl
Of whose results are good and praise
worthy.
HOW TO BECOME 4 PLANTER.
Concerning the means by which fire,
laDorers have already become planters
and through which means free labo
Of all nationalities can continue to d,
so, an example is given In some detail
which sets forth the principle an,
serves as an illustration of other cases
The Hilo Sugar Company encourage
and entered into agreements with FIRE
laborers to grow cane on its own an
adjoining lands. Such lands as coul
not be cultivated by the plantation
with horse labor were let free of rent
other lands are rented at from a nom
inal price mp to $500 per acre. as de
terminai by the value of each specifi
lot. Where necessary, which Is so II
mos. cases of free laborers enterin,
upon this system, the plantation make
advances OF money to meet the livinj
and other expenses of the small p an
ters during the period that their crop
are In growth. These allowances ar
refunded when the crop Is harvested
The crop Is purchased by the plantation
according to scale of prices which |.
based on the quality of the cane ant
the prices OF sugar in New York. or In
other cases according to conditions
all OF which are set forth in drawn
Agreements, approved and signed by
the growers and manufacturers of the
cane. Forms of these several kinds OF
agreement can be readily obtained, and
nave already been furnished to author
ties requiring 10 see and TO use them
Relating TO the example now under
consideration. the writer was present
IN the Office of the said plantation -four
weeks ago when the manager was re.
Gewing contracts, and making ad.
vances of money to the planters upon
the growing crop Some thirty OF
those planters Were there. The ap-
pearance' of thrift, responsibility, and
air OF business responsibility of those
men was nothing short OF impressive
when II was remembered that every
one of them had arrived as contract
men few years ago, and without n
dollar 10 them. In the course OF con
Versation the manager said, Yes.
paid out $50 900 10 those small planters
last year, and their production Is SIN
increasing He said further. "Oh,
yes they all seem very content, aud
even proud OF their position; And they
may well be- They not only live we'll
but some Of them have balances OF
VI 900 Ia $4,000 10 their names; whilst
Others make trips home 10 japan In
good style 10 see thelr friends, The,
all turn np again, though As thos,