The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-11-23


made upon the sugar planters for
system. These requests were frame
and presented by on association of Jao.
anese formed in this city and interest
all share holders in Hawaiian planta-
tions equally as they do the laborers.
They take the form of requests rather
than demands and were as follows;
"The cry for an increase in the
wages for the plantation laborers in
Hawaii has been heard for some time
since. 1t has gained its force more an
more since July this year. II IL be
left without any mediation, IL is be-
yond our conception to tell where IL
viii end The cloud on the-horizon of
the Hawaiian labor world is dark ad
threatening. The public minded men
of the Japanese community IN Hawaii,
seeing this and hoping TO find some
suitable means to meet the situation.
organized in the month Of September
the association on higher wage ques-
ton II has conducted thorough in.
vestigation concerning the various as
pects Of the question, and after several
esreful consultations has found there Is
necessity Of higher wages 70 plantation
laborers. Accordingly, the association
presents its findings as follows and re.
quests for the approval of the Hawai-.
ian Sugar Planters Association.
General Prices Advance
s'The great European war has af.
fected all branches Of human aetiv-
tiles and especially has advanced the
price of daily necessities throughout the
A..
this worldwide tendency, Moreover,
the insufficiency Of shipping facilities
has precipitated the advances in Ha.
wall. This is admitted by every per-
SON. ...... = gr. ..suE. .,"g...
sta order to ascertain what eject,
the present advanced price has work,
ed to. japanese plantation laborers,
this association has investigated the re-
tail prices in plantations Of forty-fve
articles consumed daily by Japanese
laborers. According TO the reports re.
eeived from thirty different plantations,
during the period from Nav, 1916, when
amendment of the rate of the bonus
was made, to the present time, October
1917, the prices of those enumerated
articles have advanced in average 62.3
percent, the highest advance being lila
percent and the lowest 81 percent. The
effect such great advance implies can
not be said to be insignificant. ...
Increased Living Costs H. a..
!" Such radical advance of the general
Jriees necessarily resulted in striking
increase of laborers' cost of living
According TO the investigation of this
association, referring to the actual life
- Iahnror. ~ ,lankaksona kho ~,
Of cost Of living for one month is as
follows: -. ....,...
Dl. Single Iaborer $s4.sl average
figure for forty.three plantations;
"2. Family With two children. $46.-
e average figu for thirty-six planta-
lions;
80. Family with three children. $52.-
80 average figure for thirty,o one planta-
lions.
Laborsrs' Income
s'Looking into the earnings of plan
tation laborers, this association has
found that the earnings Of ordinary
laborers range between $40 and $24 a
month. There are still some laborets
who are working for the minimum wage
of $50 a month. OF course, the Bonus
System provides an extra income for
sneh labOrers. However, those who are
not covered by the bonus are not able
TO pay their increased cost of living
of.present' day.
Necessity of Higher Wages
1.-THE wages Of laborers in its mini.
mgm must be sufficient 10 pay their
cost Of living besides having a mod
crate surplus. This is especially 50 where
laborers have families to support.
Now, how can laborers secure a
decent Lying with their present scanty
wagesf According to the figures oh!
tanned by our investigation, il Is a plain
fact that laborers are under a great
pressure in. their living on account of
their requirements beyond their earn
ings. This is admitted by all persons
acquainted with real conditions in the
plantation. Then, where lies the remedy
for their miserable sit iationi There is
no other way than to raise their wages.
II is a proper step for the capitalists
TO- take at this time to make ut least
raise Of wages corresponding to the
rise 10 general prices. -
Profit Of Planters .' '. .
"on the other hand, the price Of
sugar has made ,unpreeedcntedly great
advances in recent years and cOnse.
qnehtly IL is evident that the profit Of
the planters has increased eVtraordipaT-
lily. Although a new war income sur,
tax isimposed upon corporations, it is
levied upon the net profit earned over
and above the ordinary profit on ae.
count Of the war. Therefore, the i'm
position Of the tax itself shows the
great profit Of the sugar industry, This
assoeiation believes that IL Is . Latural
duty Of the planters to distribute a
part of this hinge prof' 20 their IabOrers.
Bonus and Higher Wages "
1.-THE present bonus system adopted