The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-08-25
ITALIAN LABORERS.

Italian emigration to the United
States has been actively carried on for
twenty-five years. The Advertiser has
during the last five years taken notice
of it, especially the successful settle
ments of Italians in New Jersey. c. X.
Lands who began in 1855 to establish
a model town in Vineland, on the light
soil of New Jersey, also began nearly
twenty years ago to encourage the
Italian immigrants to take up the
sandy lands of the State lying south
easterly from Philadelphia. These
lands were sold at the rate Of s. per
acre, and the settlers showed great
skill in preparing and cultivating the
soil Many of these Italian peasants
now own residences that have cost
from $500 to $1,000. Their farms are
small, many of them do not exceed five
acres, and are thoroughly cultivated.
But, Mr.. Landis spent much time and
money in making preliminary investi-
cations so as to secure the best class
of farmers.
There appears in another column an
account of the Italian laborers who
have settled in Queensland. They are
said to be excellent farmers.
There is not the least doubt that if
our planters had undertaken several
years ago to establish a few settle
ments here of Italians, and their rela-
tions with the planters had been salts
factory, there would now be con-
siderable number of immigrants ready
to respond to any call from the planta-
tions. This was not done. The pro-
ject of securing them now is liable to
be arrested by the American immigra-
ton laws which will soon prevail here.
The distance from Italy to these ISL
ands is long Only assisted immi-
grafton will be possible, and that is
contrary to American policy. If, how
ever, before the preventative laws are
passed, a few small colonies can be
established here, this immigration may
be nursed quietly and some laborers
obtained
The chief drawbacks to this immi-
grafton will be the racial conflicts be-
The mercurial temperaments of both
races will be apt to provoke disputes
and quarrels.
If the planters finally adopt the sys-
tenn of substantially purchasing the
cane from the laborers, or the contract
purchase plan, it may avoid any fric-
ton.
But the shifting of the labor supply
from Asia to Europe will be, in any
event, a difficult task. AS the labor
supply is now the chief problem before
the planters, it calls for unusual
energy and intelligence in order to
make it successful. The mere
touching of button will not do it.
The best brain, with money behind it,
may and should succeed. The planters
have had six years of due notice, from
the date of the revolution, that the
labor conditions would be changed.
AS the matter has been neglected
until Congress has lifted the axe, and
holds it in the air for a strike at as
sisted immigration laws and practices,
it is evident enough that there is need
of the best brain, with abundance of
capital behind it, to meet the crisis.
The local government will be I'M
able, after the Hawaiian Act is passed,
to aid in promoting any scheme of for
eign immigration. The planters will
be left to their own resources, but sub
ject to provisions of law.
The outlook for labor is promising
in this respect, that as the rates OF
wages paid on the plantations rise to
an equality with the best rate of wages
paid for agricultural laborers on the
Mainland, there Will be movement OF
agricultural laborers to these Islands.
With a steerage rate of passage from
the Coast fixed at SIS there would soon
be a large immigration from the Main
land, without any responsibility for the
cost of it being placed on the planters.