Evening star., 1924-09-12
3e,eos F1LIPINos IN HAWAII.
Second in Numbers to japanese.
Pay Is Strike Issue.

BY the Assocs ted Press.
HONOLULU. September 12.-Fili-
pinos compose the second largest
racial group In Hawaii. being ex-
ceeded only by the Japanese. The
board OF health estimates the Filipino
population at 3s,S0S and the Japanese
125,S6S. There are 10000 Filipino
The planters estimate that between
1000 and $500 of these are on strike.
Pablo Manlapit, Filipino strike leader,
says there are 10000 out.
According to figures supplied by
the Sugar Planters' Association,
which recruits laborers under the
supervision Of tho Philippine Gov
ernment, the contract provides for a
monthly wage Of $50. The planters
pay transportation both ways if the
Iaoorer works three years, the term
of the contract The planters con-
tend that the contract only binds
them. They have no recourse II the
Filipino quits work, there being no
penal clause in the contract.
Mhinum wage Provided.
The minimum wage for workers Of
all races is 81 daily. which Is higher
than provided by the contract. In
addition the worker is provided with
house, fuel, water, medical attention
and hospital care for himself and
family. He has the privilege of buy
Ing his food and clothing at the
plantation stores, which are not de-
signed to make a profit.
Two bonuses are provided. A bonus
Of 10 per cent of the monthly wage
for the workers turnout Is payable
to laborers who work % of the 26
available work days monthly. A
second profit-sharing bonus, ranging
from 5 to 40 per cent Of the wage
based on tho New York price of raw
sugar throughout the month, is also,
paid. This bonus starts at per cent
when raw sugar is selling at cents
a pound. 1t rises with each fraction
OF cent. Tho May bonus totaled
:26.5 per cent.
The average daily pay Of unskilled
field workers in May was SL71. The
profit-sharing bonus Is frequently
higher than the May average.
Some Cenditions Bad.
Only per cent OF the plantation
labor Is done under the guaranteed
minimum wage Of 81 daily. Other
work is done under various specific
contracts, which frequently permit
earnings UP to 81 daily. The planters
encourage the laborerS to enter into
specific contracts. The living condi-
lions or the laborerS range from the
unspeakable of the poor-producing
plantations such as those at Kahuku
to the excellent good-yieldfng planta-
tions such as those on Maui Island.
Generally, however. the planters are
endeavorinE to raise tho standard.
They have adopted q unit standard
plan house for each family, with q
yard and individual sanitary facili-
ties. They are also paying more at
tention to the location, Of the camps.
The condition Of the strikers
camps, where most Of those who quit
work are living, Is poor. according to
the officials OF the health board, and
they have been a constant source of
trouble owing to failure to comply
with sanitary regulations.
The general economic condition Of
the Filipino poor il due to tho low
standard OF living and q penohant
for spending any surplus for personal
adornment. The planters estimate,
however. that the Filipinos send be-
tween 100000 and 100000 yearly to
relatives in tho Philippinea
Tho police state that much trouble
Is encountered by the Filipinos loaf
ing around poolroonls. There are
also q number Of petty thieving and
knifnE ARRAYS, but few felonie0