Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 196, 19 May 1891 — COMTEMPLATED REDUCTION IN WAGES. A SERIOUS QUESTION. [ARTICLE]

COMTEMPLATED REDUCTION IN WAGES.

A SERIOUS QUESTION.

It is rumored around town, that the Planters of the Islands are endeavoring to arrive at a general understanding between themselves, about the labar question so as to put an end to any further competition between the different plantations. The object of this understanding, which some wish to make an iron-bound agreement is, not only to prevent the plantations from robbing each other's laborers by offering higher wages in the seasons of need, but also and pricipally to obtain a uniform rate of wages at a much lower standard than the present one. The plausible excuse for this "protective" (as it is to be called) planters movement, is that the results of the McKinley Tariff, forces all the plantations down to bed-rock economy; but another reason for it, not apparent or confessed, although very real, it is said: might also be the wish of forcing the laboring classes of the Hawaiian Islands into ā still more dependent and subjective condition than their present one. Considering the matter under a purely social vein, if, on one hand, the planters are perfectly entitled to take, for the protection of their interests as endangered by the McKinley Bill, such measures as they may deem necessary, including the general lowering of wages.—on the other hand, the same right pertains to the laboring classes. and the action of the p!anters may be expected to bring forth similar protective measures and union among the laborers. The working classes, the world over, in the conflicts between capi tal versus labor, are always. at a disadvantage; but here, the matter may at first be much more serious than elsewhere to the laboring element on account of the heteregenous composition of our laboring classes, of their general want of instruction and of the natural rivalry and keen competitoin between the different nationalities. Nevertheless, the necessities of self-protectoin may be expected to eventually force even our discordant laboring agglomerations into a defensive understanding, which might lead, —here just as well as elsewhere,—to strikes with all their concomitant symptoms of fight and crime, under a perhaps more terrible aspect still, on account of the insufficiency of all organied military forces in the kingdom. One thing, however, cannot fail to strike very forcibly all impartial minds, viz. that whilst a reduction of wages may be a forced conclusion on the planters, yet it is rather strange and awkward that it shouid turn up at the very time when a noticeable increase is prevailing on all necessities of life. Flour and rice have risen in prices of late in a most extraordinary manner.

ami it wiil soon coet Ihe poor laborer about twice as mueh to feed hiraBelf and fauiily »9 it did a year ago. 0f course such a 3ituation ae thie, —reduction of wages coiaabined with increaBe of living,—cannot be, and if the pianters do unaniaiotiBly agree to lower the wages paid by them, they must also at •nee look into the problem of how to lower the cost of living and to reduc.e the prices of all articles of food invported to these Islands. One proposition cannot work without the •ther. But will the planters be able to prevail on our importers, t« make the importation eharges meet the necessities of the times ? If not one sure thing ean already be prodicted, and that is anarchy, under perhaps its worse form. The matter of wages to be decided at preeent by the planters, is therefore the most threateriing social question ever raised in this country, and one whieh requires to be handled with the utmost care, prudence and foresight, to aYōid results whieh would be fathomless disastrous to all and every member of the community without exception. In this question, without raising any antagonism against the just rights of capital, the Leo ean be depended upon to fearlessly stand for an equally just defence oftherights and interests ofthe labouring classes, whieh we wish to awaken - up to an intellegent comprehension of the problem.