The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-06

While the labor council was discuss
ing its attitude on the question OF the
admission of Chinese for field labor
alone, the Directors of the Builders
and Traders Exchange and its commit
tee met, discussed and adopted the re-
port on labor. which win be the basis
of the response to the Merchants AS
scciation.
The members of the Labor Council
| received a committee from the Builders
| Exchange and spent several hours in
questioning them and listening to their
| argument, finally adjourning without
taking definite action according to the
| statement of one member who was
present and taking part in the dis.
cussion.
The report of the Builders Exchange
| committee in brief finds:
First, the Committee finds it impes-
sible to ascertain to what extent the
Oriental laborers brought here have
displaced the white men or Hawaiians
from positions or entered into compe-
tition with them. The committee be-
iieves the present shortage of labor on
the plantations could be relieved if the
Orientals were not engaged in mechan-
ical pursuits and performing labor
which whites and Hawaiians can and
will do, providing the pay is such as to
enable them to live on a higher plane
than the Asiatics, and the committee
believes that sure REIMBURSEMENT of
labor conditions would follow if IGoper
consideration was shown whites and
HawaiianS. The committee believes
the Portuguese have proved themselves
the very best class of labor ever en-
pioyed in the sugar industry here, and
if more Portuguese could be secured
the committee believes the whole labor
difficulty would be settled forever.
However, the committee understands
that the Planters Association has
found it impracticable to use this class
OF laborers.
In conclusion the committee states
that the largest item of consideration is
labor, and that situated as we are so
far from the source of supply of all
articles necessary or requisite in the
manufacture of sugar, we are handi-
capped, as against those countries that
are nearer the source of supply, and
where the matter of transportation is
not such a serious one, either in ex
pense or distance as it is in this Terri
tory in the marketing or our produc-
tion. we believe that these matters
should be all carefully considered, and
We have no doubt but that this ques-
ton, now that it has come up for dis
cussion, will be settled satisfactorily to
all concerned, and if we are to advance
this Territory along traditional Amer
lean lines the interests of the working
man, laborer and mechanic, as well as
the vested interests in the sugar indus
try, should be amicably adjusted, by
reasonable concessions from both sides
that this object will be gained, and our
industrial as well as our political con-
dftion improve thereby.
I'VE believe that a sentiment can be
aroused in this community by such
organizations as the Merchants Asso-
citation, the Chamber of Commerce and
the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Associa-
ton, in favor of the white and Hawai-
ian artisan, mechanic or laborer, on all
classes of work, where this labor should
be employed in preference to Oriental
labor. Private selfishness cannot be
controlled, but we believe that with
these organizations openly in favor of
such action by the community at large, |
that it's result will be felt on those who
would otherise remain selfish and in
different. And your committee, there
fore, believe that in endorsing the me- |
mortal Of the Merchants Association, |
that we concede the absolute necessity |
OF the introduction of such labor in our
cane fields, and the urgent need of
some immediate action by Congress to |
relieve the present serious condition"