The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-27
WAGE QUESTION. HAS
GOOD ARGUMENTS
FOR ALL TO CONSIDER
Plantations Find Costs Increased
and Will Be Called Upon TO
Bear War Brunt In Added Tax
While Bonuses May Be More

While no demands have been made
for wage increases by plantation lnbor,
ers of the sugar planters so far as has
been, reported, the, article which recent
~ appeared in the Hawaii Hoehi and
the letter addressed to The Advertiser
by Fred Maxine inlicafe taat e is
probable that some such denands may
be presented, The arguments offered
as to the increased living costs are
ound at basis and undoubtedly the Id
borers find, as do other people not only
of these Islands but Of the whole coun
try and indeed practically the whole
world, that q dollar does not 70 nearly
50 far as 1T did, but the same argu.
ments apply to the sugar producers
and their increased costs.
Two sides To Question H.
TALKING with. Representatives OF some
Of the agencies for the sugar planta.
tons another view point is brought
out. There is no denial of the fact that
living costs have gone up; the answer
ing argument is heard that 30 also have
the costs Of the sugar producers. Sup
plies, materials and equipment have
risen for the companies just as have
living costs aud other expenses of the
laborer and hence profits have not
been increased over last year 1t is
further added that the plantation com.
panies are also TO be. called upon to
bear large share of the burdens OF
the war. Increased taxes are to be
levied on incomes in the inst instance
and TO this there will be, it is expeeted
further addition in the so-ealled ex'
cess profits tax
Bonus Money larger
The laborer receives the same gene
raj wage as before, is an, argument
that was advanced, and he also receives
bonus based on sugar prices, on the
price the producers receive gross and
not OF the net profit Of tho sugar
Thus il is, the argument continued
that even with sugar at a high price
the aided costs faced this year over
last reduce net profits aud taxes will
still further cut them below those up
on which were based the bonus which
is now being paid TO labor. While
| the laborer feels war prices the plan
tations feel them much more and there
| is decrease in net receipts so that
! labor's share is. larger in proportion e
that which goes to the share holders
| than IL was q year ago. 49,.
Taxes Add To Costs -. .....gt,
War taxes are certain to figure large
\ ly in the accounts. Of all of I've more
4 prosperous plantations this year an,
next The crops have been good an,
the prevailing price has been high an,
promises to be higher this year thar
for the latter part OF last season. Fo
the remainder of the harvest labor vii
receive the benefit of this in highe
bonuses and il is estimated that tn,
bonus payments this year will be large
than they were a year ago while com
pany profits will not be proportionatel
! as large. III (. A slf
Plantation agencies are hoping tina
there viii be no demand made fOrfwag
increases even though they recogniz
the likelihood Of il. They are not talk
ing Of what may occur if such dmand
shall be made nor what reply woul
be given but it is evident that the
have reason to feel that with war bun
dens falling and to fall upon them tn
arguments that have been advance
for a higher wage scale do not bear III
weight (which they otherwise would.