The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-07-28
planter. views.

Mn. EDITOR: SrR,-I have noticed your article
in the last weeks GAZETTE, in regard to seeking
market for our sugars in the Eastern States,
which approve of; but first let me say we should
use every effort to make a home market, If it is
possible to do SO. I contend that planters have
no right to seek or do anything that will lead to
speculation; that they should be satisfied with
fair price at home to a doubtful one in a foreign
market. We are aware that the Mauritius and
Manila-although the crops are large-are dis
posed of at home, and there seems to be no reason
why we cannot bring about the same state of
things; if we cannot do so, then we must seek the
next best market. Our arrangement for the past
two years does not appear to me to be strictly fair
to ourselves or to the country with whom we are
under reciprocal obligations. Prior to the time
that our Treaty passed, our sugars-or the best
grades at least-went direct to the consumers on
1: he Pacific Coast, and those who so ably aided
and advocated the treaty had no other idea but
what they would continue to do so they certainly
never intended should place them entirely in
the hands of refners in San Francisco, and all we
have got 10 say for ourselves is that the San Fran
cisco Retiners said they would give US so much
(based the price of sugar at Manila), delivered
to us in San Francisco; but we must have the
whole or none. We will not permit you to send
bag or keg to Oregon, Washington Territory
elsewhere. We had either to accept of the propo-
sition seek another market for the darker
grades, and that other market must be far off
one ; and although we made contracts, we did not
make home market, but were compelled to sub
ject ourselves to employ middle men TO deliver
our sugar, collect the money and pay our drafts,
and for which we have TO pay equal to one
twentieth of our crop-this independent of the
Island agents commission which is equal to one
| fourteenth of the crop. This last do not how
object to, it is not paid simply for receiv
| ing shipping and paying the current expenses,
but also attending to the never-ending wants of
plantation: but the former we certainly cannot
1 afford TO pay, even with the advantages of an
open market, and reasonable degree of compe-
| tition. Therefore, am of the opinion that if we
cannot dispose of our sugar crop at home mean
ing at Honolulu or other ports of entry of the Is
titles and qualities as can be disposed of readily,
the balance should be sent to the Eastern States.
The distance great and SO is Mauritius from the
CLYDE and Manila from New York still they find no
| difficulty in moving the sugar crops of Mauritius
Manila at from IS to $40 per ton q 30 lbs.) ;
and although the time, freight and insurance will
be quite item to the debit SIDE Will the
charges and rates of interest be item on the
credit side. According to the New York quota
| tions for this year of sugars sold by color and
polarization in that market, our sugars, had they
been sent there, would have netted US from S12 to
/ SIS per ton more than they have done so.in San
| Francisco under our contracts. This is allowing
for time and everything, also making difference
on this years crop, so far, say S250000-Quite an
item TO this country. The San Francisco Refners
say they do not care to purchase our sugars, that
they can do better elsewhere. If that is so they
will not feel aggrieved at our making the change
above referred to, and we cannot but please the
people generally on the Pacific Coast by again
furnishing them as We formerly did and by rights
we should do, and further stop the complaints
made by the people In the Eastern States, who
have said they never expected to see Hawaiian
sugars in the twelve States while few men in
San Francisco permitted to rule that market,
all of which would certainly go far to strengthen
our treaty. 4 PLANTER.