The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-05-11

migration were authorized 10 say 10
prospective immigrants that there
was an abundance Of employment 10
DO had in Hawaii at a minimum Of
S24 month Tor 80 Is per cent in
excess of the Aslatic rate), and the
Hawaiian planters stood back Of this
assertion and employed all imInl-
grants who sought plantation employ
ment at the figure named. II should
also be noted that employment is all
the year round, Hawaii being almost
the only agricultural country known
which does not turn It's laborers
adrift at any season of the year.
The increased wage paid to newly
arrived Caucasian immigrants was
one Of the causes of the Japanese
strike of 1909, the Japanese claiming
that he was as efficient a laborer and
should be paid accordingly. While
the strike was not successful at the
time, the minimum wage was, on the
first of January, 1912, advanced to
500 month, plus all the allowances
above mentioned, and plus a further
bonus depending upon the price Of
sugar, which in case raw sugar at
New York averages four cents
pound, would amount to 10 per cent
of the basic rate. The minimum rate
for Caucasians, however, is still S24
month, and this is only for the
most unskilled, the driver Of four
mules, for example, receiving $2S a
month. The average earnings Of eau
casians is not less than a dollar a
working day, or $26 month cash,
in addition to allowances.
Mr.. Fairchild then stated the aver
age wages of agricultural laborers
with board in specified western States,
Eastern Canada and British Columbia
in 1909, showing a comparison favor
able to Hawaii
The comfortable domiciles in Hawaii
for hired labor were then described,
the school privileges, the chances to
do independent farming. ct would he
difficult" said Mr.. Fairchild, ITO find
under the American flag more pro-
gressive, better educated, and thor
oughly Americanized body of men but
one generation removed from the Eu-
ropean stock, than are the second gem
Grafton Of Portuguese in Hawaii, the
sons of the sturdy but illiterate farm
ers brought to Hawaii under the mon
archy.
demonstrating Opportunities.
The familiar opportunities for home
stealing in Hawaii were then describ.
ed. Mr.. Fairchild said on this point
after stating some of the obstacles:
There can be no doubt of the earn
est desire of the people of Hawaii to
solve it in a manner which will build
up the class of Independent farming
so much needed in the Territory As
an instance of the constructive man.
ner in which this problem is approach
ed. l may state that my present bust
ness in Washington is to bring to the
attention of Congress a resolution
passed by the last legislature of Ha-
wall in an attempt to solve beth the
immigration and the homesteading
problems. This resolution proposes
in brief that the highly developed cane
lands shall be withdrawn from the
homesteading provisions of the Or
ganic Act, and leased to the bl9nta-
tons for a term of years, and that
the largely increased revenue which
will result from a stable policy Of leas-
ing shall be used not only to promote
immigration, but to assist the settler
in locating upon the lands at higher
elevations, more suited for individual
farming. This resolution is pending
before the Committee on Territaries
and l refer to it merely to show that
the people Of Hawaii are keenly alive
to the Importance of finding a salts
factory solution to the problem of
bringing in a satisfactory class Of
white agricultural laborers to the Ter
ritory. In whatever direction this NAV
be worked out. the added handicap Of
requiring literacy test for all such
farmers would be serious, if not pro-
hibitive, drawback, and would post
pone for many years the development
of Hawaii along traditional American
lines"