The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-11-18
JAPANESE ARE
SICK Of PERU
Emigration Scandal Being Look
ed Into by the Japanese
Authorities.

In view Of recent attempts to secure
japanese emigrants from Hawaii for
South American ports, the following
from the Japan Times of October
80, will be of interest. The Times say:
A scandal is reported to have occurred
in the Meiji Emigration Company of
KyObashi, in connection with q batch
of emigrants sent to South America un-
der the management of the company
1t seems that the company invited
laborers TO engage in the rubber indus
try in Peru, South America, in Septem-
Der of last year. They offered a wage
of 2.50 yen per day. Over 400 men
accepted the offer. After they had paid
the company their travelling expenses
and commission, they were sent to the
scene of their work. They arrived at
Callao on the 14th of November. They
were met by the head of the Lima
branch of the company, Mr.. Yosotake
Kawamura, who informed them that as
it was the rainy season, they could not
engage in the rubber industry. They
would be taken to the forests of rubber
trees in April of the following year,
and during the interval they had bet
ter work ON farms along the coast.
About one hundred of them were al
lowed TO land at the port as represen-
tatives and the others were sent by
force to the sugar plantations at Hua-
cho. They were opposed to the step,
but in spite of their stenuous resistance,
they were taken to the plantations.
They were told at first that they would
be given a daily wage of 1.20 yen.
The real amount of wage, however, was
only so sen. Under the circumstances,
they led a hard life, barely sustaining
themselves. They appealed to their SUI
perintendent for an increase of wages,
but to no purpose. In the mean time,
Mr. Kawamura, the head of the Lima
branch, came to them and made a writ
ten promise to them that they should
be taken to the spot of the rubber in
dustry by May OF 1909 binding him to
an oath to the effect that damages
should be paid them if the stipulation
was not carried out. In April last a
secretary of the japanese honorary con-
sulate at Lima came to them and gave
them encouraging words.
On the 9th of May last man was
sent by the Lima branch of the COM
pany to the sugar plantations and meas
ures were to be taken to send the labor
ers to the rubber-tree forests in accord
ance with the stipulation made before.
The man, however, demanded of the
men to pay him ~ yen each for their
transportation. They again opposed the
imposition, for they had no obligation
to pay such expenses. At last the rep
resentative of the company yielded and
fifty of them were taken ON board
steamer for their destination. The
others were told that they would be
sent by and by, because they could
not be taken in body owing ito lack
of money on the part of the company.
The fifty were badly treated on the
ship and two of them died on account
of insufficient food. Nothing had since
been heard OF the fifty, and the re-
naming $50 were not sent for. They
got indignant with the measures of the
company and on the 9th of July last
sent petition to the foreign office.
The secretary of the Lima consulate
also took steps for their deliverance,
reporting the matter to the home gov
eminent. Since then many letters from
the emigrants have been received at the
foreign office, asking the latter to take
steps for their relief. Under the cir
the foreign office instructed
the consulate at Lima to demand from
the company a security of 10000 ven,
whilst Mr.. Zenji Iwamoto, president of
the emigration company, was ordered
to proceed TO the scene of trouble. He
left Yokohama on the 18th of last
month.