Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-11-24
FACTS IN
HAWANASSEEN
BY DIR. MEEKER
T.. S. Commissioner of Labor
Statistics Finds Conditions
Here Excellent

After visiting Hawaii and invest1-
eating labor conditions here. DR..
Royal Meeker, United States commits
sioner of labor statistics, wrote IN a
formal report:
There is probably no other tropical
country except northern Queensland
where the average earnings and the
standard of living of workers are as
high as in the Islands. Cuban planta-
ton hands receive more pay per day
for part of the year, but employment
at these wages is not so continuous
as in Hawaii, while housing and SAM
tary conditions for ordinary laborers
are below the Hawaiian standard,
However, wages in the territory are
lower. and the opportunity for COM
mon laborer to advance is less, than In
California.
The general condition of Hawaiian
workers presents no evidence of eco
nomic hardship, though individual in
stances of such hardship doubtless
occurs. .... ..%s !. ....a-.s
Better Than Elsewhere
Labor conditions in Hawaii are bet
ter than in most tropical countries
and in most ways they are better than
in many mainland communities. The
struggle for existence is not severe.
Except early in 1914, when abnormally
low sugar prices and the prospective
removal of the duty on that article
enforced stringent economy in planta-
ton management, agricultural workers
have never faced involuntary unem-
ployment. From an oriental stand
point, labor conditions are excellent.
Considering the demands of the
climate, plantation workers are bet
ter housed than many rural laborers,.
mine workers, and unskilled city
workmen on the mainland. There has
been much improvement in water sup
ply, sewage disposal, bathing facilities,
and in general cleanliness of camp
surroundings, but sections of camps
that formerly had been fairly clean
and attractive when occupied by Jap
anese and Hawaiians were filthy and
unreasonable under Filipino occu-
pancy. "
"The plantation interests form a
benevolent industrial oligarchy. The
relations existing between the plan
tation manager and his laborers are
semi-feudak Laborers and their fam.
lilies on the sugar plantations, for the
most part living in isolated village
communities, are accustomed to re-
gard the plantation manager as an
earthly Providence whose paternal
business it is to supply them with
certain utilities and Disabilities with
or without their advice and consent.
I'm contrast with most tropical
countries the people who control the
industries of Hawaii make their
home in the country and take a neigh
borhood interest in the welfare of
those who work for them. But if we
view labor conditions in Hawaii as
primarily important because they will
determine the political future of the
country and the character of its civili-
cation. then these other questions OF
immigration and race control, OF land
and water policies, and of civic de-
yelopment-are logically parts of the
subject. From the standpoint of our
national interest in Hawaii. which
gives occasion to the law calling for.
this report, these are the questions
in relation to which labor conditions
are to be considered.
From this broader viewpoint the
increase of resident laboring popu-
lation, the fostering of industries oth-
er than sugar making, the rise of a
middle class derived from the people
WHO work with their hands, and the
increase in small holdings, are all
hopeful symptoms of progress toward
a true civic community. organized to
secure the welfare of all its members.
The federal government, in every poll
icy affecting the territory, should
strive to foster such community