The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-09-18
TRENOR Tells
OF HIS MISSION


until recently, was connected with the
Bureau of immigration at Washington,
was passenger on the Mongolia on
her last trip. He has been in Hawaii
for four months, where he has been
studying immigration matters general
". lie went there at the special invi-
tation of the Territorial government,
and was assigned to the mission by the
Federal authorities at Washington. BE
had formerly conducted several special
Investigations in Europe for the de-
partment, especially in Italy, and is re-
Karded as an authority on the subject
of Italian immigration.
When requested for an expression of
his views on Hawaii he said:
al 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-
waii, Maui, and Kauai. The problem
that presented itself was complex
one, and the permanent and satisfactory
solution of questions was of some mag
nitude.
at 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 car
ried along on lines the foundation of
which will be the fostering and perpet-
uation of American institutions. 1t is
perfectly obvious that to do this efforts
should be made to stimulate immigra-
tion of n class whose affiliations are
distinctly American, and whose progeny
will not only be eligible to but DESTROYS
of American citizenship.
"My tentative plan having been ac-
eepted, i have made an engagement to
represent the Boar6 of Immigration of
the Territory of hawaii in the United
States, and fer that purpose shall
open headquarters in New York.
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:
It is the object of the Board only
TO lend itself to assist in the introduce
ton of such European labor as is eli
gible to citizenship and the gradual in
PRODUCTION of which will offset the
present preponderance of Asiatics in
the Territory. In fact, the funds have
been contributed with the specific I'M
Outstanding that they be expended
solely in the introduction of a non
Asiatic class, who could, and would,
eventually become Americans citizens.
alt should be borne in, mind that
the securing of satisfactory and suf.
Rcient 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
emily to- GO SO far in the payment of
wages and exist. In the ease of the
sugar industry, which this year is, for
tunately, exceptionally prosperous, IT
needs only a season of drought, de-
pressed sugar market, or a possible re-
duction in the duty on raw sugar to i'm
peril an enterprise which furnishes
nearly sc per cent. of the total wealth
Of the Islands.
1.-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,
the margin of profit is seriously i'm
paired. Millions of dollars of capital
have been sunk in the islands in an
effort to launch such enterprises. If 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.
This is why it always has and will
continue TO be imperative that those
carrying on this business must be pre-
pared financially to tide themselves
over bad season or two. Inability
to dtb this merely courts disaster. The
concrete propositions are: What are the
Inducements, and what, if any, are the
draw hacks OF immigration to Hawaii
The former are many, the latter few.
hContinueus work, at fairly reason
able wages, perfect climatic conditions,
free rent, fuel. water and medical at
tendance, with the possession of house
and plot of ground at the end of three
years are among the attractions. Good
schools and well-equipped hospitals
meet both the mental and physical de-
nands. The difficulty in Hawaii, so far
ns common labor is concerned, is not in
finding continuous work, but in finding
continuous workers.
"The wages paid, with the added
free list, are probably somewhat great
az than those received by like worker
ON, the mainland, when the opportunity
to work continuously is taken into con-
sideration. The quarters furnished with
the plot of land, frequently cultivated
to its utmost capacity, the sanitary con-
ditions enforced, and the practical alb
sence of physical dangers, render the
lot of these workers infinitely superior
to the average toiler elsewhere.
HGompared with conditions in vari
GUS parts of Europe, where the. people
are frequently herded like cattle, thei
state is one of positive luxury. TIL
rigors of sesrehing heat and biting coli
are unknown there. This tends to ma
terially reduce the cost of living, AM
especially of clothing. opportunitie
10 cultivate land on contract are opel