The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-13

a considerable area of this territory Is
nor adapted for colonization by Euro-
mean races. Herein lies the danger OF
Asiatic hordes coming in. CUR only
chance TO oDViate such a Contingency
is TO continue to occupy and make pro-
dl1ctiya as large d portion of the nor
thern areas as possible, obtaining labor
Injured TO the stress of climate, to per-
form the harder work under the super
vision of the white man until he is
able to take it up himself. or IS proved
TO be physically unfit for the Iask
The white labor problem in Austria,
liza cannot I,e solved. These laborers
are constantly striking ror higher
wages They do not finish their tasks,
and kanakas have to be requlsitioned-
to finish their work; Aslatlcs IN Aus
tralia are suoken of as a very unde-
sirable class. and their prohibition to-
the States would be hailed With salts
faction, and the principal objection
seems to be that the Chinese there
saves every penny of his wages and
sends it back to his native land, in
marked contrast to the kanaka.
The following is taken from. the
Queenslander;
When the Hawaiian Islands were an
nexed by America the government OF
that country made it stipulation
that sugar produced on the islands
should be admitted free of duty into
the United States provided the work
of growing the sugar was performed
by either white or kanaka labor, Asiat-
ic labor not to be permitted. The Diff
Guilty arose in the number OF AsiaticS
on the Islands at the time they were
annexed. and as it was found impossl-
BILE to get sufficient whites or Kanakas
TO do the work, an amnesty WAS grant
ed TO the planters for employing AsIat
ics-principany Japanese. In the
meantime, agents We're sent to the
United States and Canada to recruit
white laborers for the sugar industry
in the Islands, as it was announced
that the continuance of the Japanese
labor would not be permitted ad fnfin-
itun1. Several gangs of white lahorerS
were brought to the Islands, ana good
contract prices given, but the men
tired of the work and paid the colored
laborer to do the work for them. Thus
the labor question in the Hawaiian ISL
lands remains as it began, conten
tious one. The American government
however, recognizes the Importance or
the Industry, and while urging the
necessity of doing away with the Jap
anese Iaborers and other Asiatics, Is
DESTROYS of offering some alternative
regarding labor for sugar growing be-
fore taking steps that may lead to it's
humiliation. In this we see the light
in which the Asiatic is regarded In
America. The kanaka is not looked
upon as a menace to the social or COM
mercial conditions of the country, but
the Asiatic is considered to De most
| formidable rival, in many walks OF
| life, to the European.
The Queenslander, in speaking Of the
| Bundaberg district:
| The kanaka was' considered the most
reliable laborer for the sugar fields,
| and steps were taken to secure num-
! Der from the South Sea Islands. They
turned out equal to what was expected
: e ~ R1At ,Tare- 4I,.r,n hot tan
! introduction of the kanaka was the
solution of the labor difficulty. Upon
him rested the prosperity of the sugar
! industry--an industry that practically
could not have been established with
out this or similar aid. Sugar grow
ing was carried on with great yfgor
when suitable labor was at hand
! Larger areas We're placed under cane,
an increase in the white population en-
sued, and Bundaberg, hitherto IAN
gushing as a little village on the
banks of the Burnett river, has new
life impaired to it. New buildings
went up with surprising celebrity, and
the town became one of the most &C
tive commercial centers along the
coast.
The entire uncertainty in Australia
seems to be over a measure pending
to prohibit kanaka laborers, and thus
give a new avenue for work for the
white men. The planters are protest
ing vigorously against the proposition
We have now made an inveStiga-
ton of the sugar industry in the sub
tropical sections of Queensland, and
have interviewed the principal grow
ers, comprising those in a large way
of business, and those cultivatins
smaller holdings. The latter were spe-
cially interrogated as to the possibility
of their producing sugar cane solely
with white labor, and the unanimous
verdict has been No The wore
unanimous is used advisedly because
two or three who expressed the opln-
ion that they could produce cane with
out the aid of the kanaka, simply hat
in view as an alternative the Hindoo
or other Asiatic. Rabid labor agita
tors who went to the district with the
fixed determination to grow cane with
out the assistance of the kanakas are
now respectable conservatives In 81
far as retaining the services of the
islanders is concerned.
There is one important aspect o.
the opposition to the Polynesian la
borer, and that is the fact that only
those not engaged in sugar growing
lift up their voice against him. The
kanaka is a handy political weapon
for use against opponents. and full use
is made of that dusky laborer of The
South Seas at every election to wiz
the votes of the unthinking, while {
moments reflection should convince
them that the assistance OF the kama
ka in developing the surrounding sugar
lands has been one of the principa
factors in providing the wherewitha
TO maintain the town in which they
seek subsistence.
1T is obvious that the kanaka is al
important element in sugar production
in sub-tropical Queensland