The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-09-24
JAPANESE ASK CONTRACTS
TO WORK UNDER A LUNA
FOR WAGES.
John M. Horner Discusses the Cause
and Cure of the Present Labor Trou-
bles-The Actual Conditions.

Your creditabe enquiry for public
good respecting the truth about
the approximate losses sustained by
plantations on account of a deficient
supply OF labor is at hand, and you
| kindly ask me to give you what know
about the situation, particularly about
, my own Plantation.
1t is true as you have heard that there
mas been more or less trouble on nearly ]
all plantations of this island since our
labor law was abrogated by the United
states. Kukaiau Plantation had some
loss and annoyance during tho first
month after the labor law was set
aside, net so much from the laborers
leaving the plantation as from the
small amount of labor performed by
each for days work, not more than
three quarters as much as they former
ly had done, and leaving the field sing
ly or in body at any hour of the day.
Any one of the lot could stampede all
japanese laborers in hearing of his
shout and these would send runners to
all the japanese on the plantation and
all promptly stopped work and went
home
This being in the planting and har-
vesting time was considerable. of a loss
as the mill as well as the plantation
work was stopped for the day whenever
it occurred, and the seed cane was left
exposed to the sun in the field. This
days. During this time a few left of
their own free will The plantation
forced the few ring-leaders of the
trouble, to leave, and the rest settled
down to honest labor again and have
done quite well so far since.
This plantation finished its harvesting
and planting in good season and has
kept the care of it's cane well in hand
We Joined with the management OF
other plantations in this district and
raised the wages of our shipped Japan
ese five dollars per month each. House,
wood, water and the services of a COM
petent physician were continued as
heretofore.
The statement of losses to which you
refer are not general; they apply only
to a few plantations. The statement
that cane has been deliberately burned
to keep it from rotting so as to save
the ratoOns, is not to be credited. L
have heard nothing of it. There have
been few fires in the cane in this dis
trict accidently started causing consi-
derable loss, but theyshadno connection
with the laborers, save as the laborers
worked resolutely to eXtinguish them
The statement referring to Paauhau
plantation,-as understand it's not
| overdrawn. Laborers have left, or are
| leaving plantations i'm considerable
numbers hunting for contracts, or for
places to raise cane on shares. If they
can SuCn IflSy are sure
getting rich more quickly than by
working by the MONTH Besides, If they
get a contract they can then work how
and when they please without the sup
ervision of a luna. Japanese and Chi
nese are the only nationalities thus af-
fected.
Your question is rs this condition IN
your opinion, simply a transient one
that will soon right itself, or is it likely
to be n continuing one?" AS this ques-
ton requires only my opinion l will
briefly state it. My opinion is 1t Is n
continuing one, and will continue until
the plantations return to their first love,
and again have their work done by
hired labor as formerly and cease let
ting out their lands for raising cane by
contract or upon shares. Then planta-
tions would know where they were at,
year by year, and Iaborers would also
know We're they were at. Now all is
confusion and doubt and must so con-
tinue untfl an honest repentance is
humb1y made by returning once more