The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-09-15
TRENOR TELLS
Of HIS MISSION
Says Work viii Require Self
AbDegation on Part of
Some Here.

{ Chronicle.-John J. D. Trenor. who,
until recently, was connected with the
Bureau of immigration at Washington,
was a passenger on the Mongolia on
her last trip. He has been in Hawaii
for four months, where he has been
studying immigration matters general
ly. He went there at the special invi-
tation of the Territorial government,
and was assigned to the mission by the
Federal authorities at Washington. He
had formerly conducted several special
Investigations in Europe for the de-
partment, especially in Italy, and is re-
garded as an authority on the subject
of Italian immigration.
When requested for an expression of
his views on Hawaii he said:
81 have devoted three months and a
half to the study of the immigration
question in Hawaii, having gone thor
oughly over the Islands of Oahu, Ha-
wall, Maui, and Kauai The problem
that presented itself was a complex
one, and the permanent and satisfactory
solution of questions was of some mag
nitude.
1T will demand time, patience and
self abnegation on the part of many 10
accomplish the desired results, but ]
believe that all these will be forthcom-
ing, without hesitation and without
protest, and that the work will be ear
ried along on lines the foundation of
which will be the fostering and perpet-
uation of American institutions. It is
perfectly obvious that to do this efforts
should be made to stimulate immigra-
ton of a class whose affiliations are
distinctly American, and whose progeny
viii not only be eligible to but DESTROYS
of American citizenship.
MY tentative plan having been ac-
cepted, j have made an engagement to
represent the Board of immigration of
the Territory of hawaii in the United
States, ami fer that purpose / shall
open headquarters in New York. 1
shall endeavor from among those now
within our gates, to recruit such labor
as the Territory may, from time to
time. be in need.
''That this will be carried out in a
way to commend itself to all having
the welfare of the country at heart,
may be seen from the following ex-
tract from my letter of instructions:
8. 1t is the object of the Board only
to lend itself to assist in the introdue-
ton of such European labor as is ELI
gible to citizenship and the gradual in
PRODUCTION OF which viii offset the
present preponderance of Asiaties in
the Territory. In fact, the funds have
been contributed with the specific un-
derstanding that they be expended
solely in the introduction of a nom
Asiatic class, who could, and would,
eventually become American citizens.
s'It should be borne in mind that
the securing of satisfactory and suf-
ficient labor supply is one of the most
vital questions with which the Terri
tory is confronted; in fact, it underlies
the whole fabric of its prosperity.
$50 many elements of uncertainty
enter into the profitable raising of
crops in the Islands that it is possible
only to 60 so far in the payment of
wages and exist. In the case of the
sugar industry, which this year is, for
exceptionally prosperous, It |
needs only a season of drought, de- |
pressed sugar market, or possible re-
duction in the duty on raw sugar to i'm |
peril an enterprise which furnishes
nearly 9G per cent. of the total wealth |
of the Islands.
''The present duty on sugar may |
seem ample protection, but when the |
cost of delivery in the greatest market |
New York--is taken into account, |
! 10 of &c cnrfnucIy I
paired Millions of dollars of capital /
have been sunk in the islands in an |
effort to launch such enterprises. Ii a
careful survey were made of the capt
tai invested in the sugar industry, and |
the returns therefrom, taking the Isl
ands as a whole, for the past twenty
years it is very doubtful whether an
average of more than 3 per cent per
annum would be shown.
'sThis is why it always has and viii
continue to be imperative that those
carrying on this business must be pre-
pared financially to tide themselves
,ver bad season or two. Inability
% do this merely courts disaster. The
concrete propositions are: What are the
and what, if any, are the
drawbacks of immigration to Hawaii
The former are many, the latter few.
Continuous work, at fairly reason
lble wages, perfect climatic conditions,
rec rent, fuel, water and medical at
enhance, with the possession of house
md plot of ground at the end Of three
ears are among the attractions. Good
chools and well Equipped hospitals
meet both the mental and physical de-
hands. The difficulty in Hawaii, so far
S common labor is concerned, is not in
hiding continuous work, but IN finding
ontinu0us workers. ID
''The wages paid, with the added
rec list, are probably somewhat great ]
r than those received by a like worker I
n the mainland, when the opportunity
o work continuously is taken into con-
Iteration. The quarters furnished with
he plot of land, frequently cultivated
o its utmost capacity, the sanitary con- c
itions enforced, and the practical abb ,
ence of physical dangers, render the !
OF of these workers infinitely superior
o the average toiler elsewhere.
compared with conditions in vari-
us parts of Europe, where the people
= -. x