The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-07-31
WAGE QUESTION
AGITATES
Island Nlbponese Press Agrees
That Tine Has Come When
Wages Should Be Adsanced

The agitation among the japanese Of
Hawaii, or at least that portion Of the
Japanese colony for which the Japanese
press speaks, for an increase IN wages TO
meet the increased cost of living il
gathering Roadway. The suggestion
that the Japanese formulate proper
request To- be laid before the members
OF the sugar planters association came
from Fred Maxine, through his paper,
the Hawaii Hochi, and this has been
taken up and widely urged by the rest
OF the Japanese press.
atn very much gratifed to note
that many of those who have com
mented favorably on the suggestion are
well known local haoles, y said Mr.. Ma
kino yesterday, for these expressions
of approval show that the Hochi was
not. mistaken when IL chose this pArtic.
ular time as appropriate for ap6roAch
ing the employers Of labor for higher
pay for the plantation laborers.
No fair-minded person can deny
that the iabQrers are entitled to sub
stantial raise In their wages, and Il
wonld be crime against humanity 70
withhold the rights Of the worlkingmen
for a decent living wage under prevail
ing conditions by any pretexts,v says
Mr.. Maxine.
Going To Japan Yes
THAT the Japanese are sending large
amounts of money to Japan, as was
stated in Fridays issue Of the Star,
Bulletin is very true; but that fact can,
not be used as an argument proving
that the Japanese workingmen are In
possession Of surplus Of funds; for
he money is being sent to pay for sta,
piles rs well as towards the support Of
dependent ones, thus fulfilling their FL
ial duty.
Many Meatless Days Il
:. "A great deal is being said these
lays concerning a Ineatless day for the
Islands as a measure of economy during
the war. The Japanese have been hay,
ing four OF Eve meatless days each weel,
ever since we could remember, so frugal
have they been. It would be inhuman
for anyone to grudge them the little
amount they have succeeded in saving
by all sorts of self-denials.
Higher wagesl' is the cry Of the
hour. tits public opihlDlt, ard We shouGi
not attempt to pervert il. Let us face
the facts as becomes men, and as nien
who are Americans. Something has tc
he done 70 mitigate the conditions OF
the workingmen ere discomfort begins
10 ferment among them. This is nc
lime to beat about. the bush looking for
pretexts TO fool them. We might sue
aeed in f6oling ourselves
Press opinions
The opinions expressed by the Jap
anese press are unanimous that TIT
planters should take advantage Of thu
present high price Of sugar to advance
wages, although with seven cent sugar
the bonus Just now represents a seven
y per cent advance in plantation pay
over the normal wage
The Maui Shinbuh Or fully "a says
Higher wages must not be regard
ed as an argument put up by only 0
few among US. 1t is a wish born o.
necessity and it is the proper thing
for the capitalists TO consider just a
this time when they are being bene
fted by enormous profits. ri
The, Hawaii Mainehi of the TWEEN
tieth at Hilo, refers at length to tn,
increased cost of foodstuffs and says:
Living conditions are worse nov
than they were before the introduction
of the bonus system. The wage-scalt
should be advanced even If it is the
period of the war. To do this is th'
natural duty of the employers toward
their employees. !"
Hilo Suggestions
The Honolulu papers have all adopt
ed the issue. The Hawaii Choho OF
the twenty-ffth, after calling the at
tention of the readers to the Increased
cost OF. living. among the Japanese a.
wen an others, said,
"W6ile the profits Of the planter
have been steadily Increasing, thos,
of the workingmen have been practic
ally at standstill. II is, consistent
with the times, therefore, for tn,
planters to increase the. wages OF theil
employees so that the minimum pay pc
day will be one dollar per man. Other
wise the present bonus should be in
creased. II this is not fsasihls ther
it behooves the planters to see to !
that the stores under their control de
liver staples to their wprkingmen a
prices, that prevailed before the war
One of these suggestions must be car
ried out if the sufferingr of the work
ingmen are to be mitigated.
III at this, time demand for high
er wages was made to the planters b,
representative workingmen there cal
be no doubt that some benefit ear
come out of. it,
The Hawaii Shinpo of the twenty
second prints lengthy article unde
the heading 1In Behalf Of the Work
ingmen We Hopefully Request of TIL
Planters.
Honolulu Editorials ,
The Hawai- Hochi of the twenty
sixth says:
According TO 'Facts About Sugar,
magazine published in New York, tn,
lowest cost Of production of Hawaiian
sugar is $54.29, the highest cost o.
production $GS.2G. The average COS
of producing Hawaiian, sugar, there
fore, is around, $44.50. Add to thi
the cost of shipping, which is 1914, Il
New York ports, and one win see tina
the actual cost of production and trans