The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-04-16
VIEWS OF
MR.. STEAD

No time has been lost by Alfred Stead
son Of the famous London editor of Re
view of Reviews, in obtaining statistical
information concerning the Islands, prin-
c:pally upon the labor situation and the
sugar industry. He has been indefati-
gable in his search for information that
will be of great value to him in his stud
les of the sources and methods Of labor
In Hawaii and of other countries. He is
particularly interested at present in com
pairing the relative value of the Japanese
field worker with the laborers from other
places He believes that the Japanese la
borer is by far the most Industrious and
competent to cultivate the sugar lands of
Hawaii
In visit to Waalua last week he was
impressed by the magnitude of the mill
ing operations and the quality of the
machinery employed there to reduce the
cane stalks to the sacked product
This plantation is one of the finest |
have ever seen in my travels, because of
its magnitude and the splendid machinery
that has been installed there. The mill
combining as 1t does the most modern
ideas on sugar milling with the excellent
prospects of the industry here, is not to
be compared with those of other coun-
tries. 1t was treat to go through it,
and I am convinced that the sugar in
dustry of Hawaii. If this Is but a sam
ple is worthy Of all the capital that is
invested in 1t.
81 saw the Porto Rican laborers at
Waialua Yes; they work pretty well,
but Of course are not to be compared
with the Japanese field hands. 1t Is sur
prlsing how these Japanese work SO well,
considering they are of the very lowest
order of workmen to be obtained from
Japan. When you take into consideration
a comparison of these ignorant coolies
with the lowest ebb types of other races,
they are by far the best class to employ.
There are Japanese there who have risen
to positions which illustrates their great
ambition to do what the trained white
mechanics handle so well. One of them
was running a pump and he had even
prepared drawings of plans for a slight
Improvement in tho machinery. That In
itself is convincing proof that the Jap
anese laborer exhibits an intelligence
which will not often be found in laborers
of other nationalities.
"Honoulu is a pretty place, but j can
readily see there have been recent
changes and that Americanism Is rapid
ly transforming it. J am not certain In
my own mind yet whether annexation
has been the best thing for the Islands or
not But then of course. that is an old
question. and according to diplomatic
language, the incident Is closed At the
protectorate established by the United
States over Hawaii would have been more
advantageous. / have seen a number or
men here-some of them planters-whom
am quite sure would rather have had a
protectorate than annexation. 1t may be
true, however, that If the United States
had not annexed the Islands, some other
power would have done So"
Mr.. Stead was asked concerning the
SuDpression OF the Review of Reviews In
South Africa, and especially In the Brit
ish possessions, on account OF it's political
attitude toward the ministry. Mr.. Stead
said that his father had pursued an ed'-
torial policy upon the merits of the war
which caused the powers that be to take
measures to prevent its utterances from
finding n voice in the south of Africa. Mr.
Stead says the suppression of the month
l. is only theoretical. His father took the
stand that the war was useless and could
have been worked out to the satisfaction
OF all concerned in the Transvaal in the
course OF the time in which the English
and Beers have waged war with each
other. The Krueger element was in the
minority, but according to the method OF
representation In vogue they had the con-
trolling vote on all measures, and by this
means Krueger was able to engage in
war with England w. r. Stead has
ciung to his policy OF declaring that the
ministry plunged Great Britain into
useless and expensive war and for that
reason his magazine. together with Rey
nold's Newspaper and Laboucheref
Truth, have all fallen under the ban,
Mr. and Mrs. Stead leave for Japan on
the Hongkong Maru on the 18th. They
will remain in the latter country for
some time while the young author gath
ers material for his book