The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-23
EOE TAX APPEAL RUANE FAUNA COMPLETE MAXWELL TO THE HMB TTH ANNIVERSARY
NOW POLITICALLY PROMINENT
IN AUSTRALIA.
Sugar Planters Of Queensland Put Him
Forward in Their Fight Against Pro-
hibition Of Kanaka Labor.


Dr. Walter Maxwell has sprung into
prominence lately i'm Australia outside
of his scientific attainments. 1t is
brought about by the introduction of a
bill in the COmmonN Nealth parliament
prohibiting the importation of Polyne-
sian or other labOrers except white men
after 1904. This bill is spoken of by the
Australian papers as the "kanaka'
labOrer's bill and seems TO have created
considerable CONSERVATION in the sugar
industry of Queensland where much Of
the cane field labor is done by Polyne-
slams The Australian papers are full
of the subject and the sydney Morning
Herald gives prominence to the follow
ing dispatch from Brisbane.
BRISBANE, october 6.-On receiving
the text of the Kanaka Bin the Premier
Immediately sent a letter to DR.. Max
well asking an expression Of that gem
tleman's opinion on its probable effects.
DR.. Maxwell in reply states: Con
Cerning the measure with its present
provisions, If il passes / am persuaded
it viii paralyse the industry The ef-
feet will be instant A very large pro-
portion of cane growers are depending
upon the banks and other financial
sources to aid them in producing ana
harvesting their crops and in the per-
manent development Of the farms. This
aid viii stop in many cases at once. My
relations with the growers on the one
hand, and with money institutions who
sought my opinions, cause me TO be
painfully well aware Of the situation
and Of what must happen If the threat
ened action Is taken. a further effect
will be that the industry must stop
from want of labor to make the har-
vest OF the future crops If the time pro-
visions Of the bill are enforced. other
kinds of labor are not in the country,
and cannot be got within the specified
time. The sheer economic result that
must follow is patent Putting the
matter briefly, assuming II to be enact
ed that the Pacific Islander must go,
then in those districts which may sur
vive the abolition of such labor, 10
years is the minimum time within
which IT Will be found possible to ad-
just the industry to the proposed new
conditions and provide labor for its
continuance. Concerning the great inn
pOrtance of the sugar industry and the
probable future effect Of such legisla-
ton upon It, 1 do not require to reply
by mere verbal opinion. The Sugar EN-
pertinent Stations Act, which cOnstitu-
ted my present advisory relation to
your government and to the sugar in
dustry compelled me to formulate
policy, while my position Justly requires
that | shall be silent upon questions in
their political stage Of development. 1t
appears Opportune to inform you that
few days prior to the death Of the late
Secretary Of Agriculture / met him by
special appointment at marlborough
when he requested my opinion upon the
future of the sugar industry in view Of
impending legislation / had TO reply
that my experience in other countries
with my observation I'm this country.
and the history of labor experiment in
the state, forced me to conclude that If
the Industry should be made wholly
dependent upon white labor, then sugar
growing north Of Mackay must die out
1t viii not be instant but / consider It
certain. 1t must be primarily under
stood that cane growing is totally diff
terent from growing potatoes or maize
II labor is short and the farmer cannot
produce 1000 bushels of maize then he
can grow 1000 bushels, and find a mar
ket. But sugar Is manufactured ar
ticle, and must be made where the cane
Is grown. If the mill requires 30, 200
tons of cane to make II possible to omen
up and pay running expenses and only
5000 tons are grown, then the mill is
stopped just as effectively as though
not a stick of cane is grown. / consider
II certain that cane will not be grown
solely by white labor north of Mackay
to keep the mills i'm existence. In a
more formal and reserved sense this
view is expressed in my statement made
TO the Federal Premier In reply to the
late Secretary of Agricuture's further
urgent inquiry, But what shall we do
with out cane farmers? We cannot leave
them rot on the ground like sheep in
the West when drought overtakes them
stated that any enactment which in
yolYed closing up the northern cane
helds If passed for other than economic
reasons should In common equity pro-
vide compensation to the mill owners
and farmers for their vested interests.
and by such means ! considered Il pos
sible to remove the farmers to more
southern districts, where cane growing
may be rendered possible by white la
Dor aided by scientific appliances"
In concluding DIR. Maxwell says: II
snail however, have to urge the most
careful consideration of the government
In the interest Of cane farmers. If le-
gislation should render cane growing
! impracticable we have 2610 Of these men
/ the backbone Of their districts, and they
| must not be lost sight Of, yet subjects
| which are matters of opinion and dlyi-
sions In Parliaments are questions of
| life and death to those men in the
| fields"