The Cane Cutters of the Queensland cane fields, between 1863 and 1904, were collectively and derogatively known as Kanakas. This group of approximately 62,000 people from a collection of Pacific Islands were forcefully transported from their homes and deceived about what awaited them in Australia (Miller, 2010). They were used as a cheap source of labour and came to Australia on big boats. They worked in the cane fields and were treated very poorly.
The Pacific Island Cane Cutters came to Australia to work in the sugar cane fields of Queensland. In Far North Queensland, the sugar cane industry was just beginning to develop. Originally, after the crop had grown, the ‘white Australians’ had attempted to cut the cane. However, due to the hot temperature …show more content…
The first ships were deployed in 1863, under the command of Robert Towns which ventured to the islands and collected groups of Islanders. These Islanders were confused as to what was happening as they had never seen boats this big before. Initially, they believed that these people were here to trade coconuts and fruit with them. They travelled out in their small boats out to the large ship of the Australians (Sugar Slaves, 1995). Here, they were told “Don’t be afraid, you come have a look at ship” (Sugar Slaves, 1995).This was one of the main techniques use by the Australian Sailors to deceive the innocent Islanders and steal them straight off their beaches. By the Islanders who were left behind, these boats were known as ‘people stealing boats’ or ‘steal ships’ and to the Australians the process was known as ‘blackbirding’. However, put simply, it is simple the ‘Pacific Slave Trade’. (Sugar Slaves, 1995).These people were transported from a range of islands including Vanuatu, The Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Gilbert Islands, New Ireland and Papua New Guinea. They were brought to Queensland and disembarked at one of nine ports along the east coast, including Brisbane, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bowen, Townsville, Innisfail and Cairns and set straight to work (Miller, …show more content…
Although these Pacific islanders were paid, it was at approximately one fifth of the wage of a white Australian doing the same work (Sugar Slaves, 1995). Each Islander was required to work for the Australians for a minimum of three years and worked ten hours per day. Those who completed the work that was required were paid four pence per day and about six pounds per year (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001). Those who did not complete what was requested of them would be severely punished. The overseer, an Australian man who watched over the workers, was in control of deciding whether or not the work completed was satisfactory enough. If he was not impressed, he would hit or whip them (Sugar Slaves, 1995). Despite contradictory arguments over whether or not the Islanders were treated humanely, one thing that remains undisputed is the death rates. ‘The death rate in the Queensland colony for non-Pacific Islanders was 13.03 per 1000, whilst the Islander mortality rate was 62.89 per 1000’ (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2001). The workers were not provided with enough clothing to assist them in surviving the cold of the winters and many passed from the cold. Others main reasons for death within the Pacific Islander community were pulmonary consumption, dysentery and typhoid (Australian