Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1885-06-27

pLtsTERs JND tGENTs
1t goes without saying that the
hog>,i interests of the citizens Of this
kingdom are practically identical.
Good government, good business, are
good lor every member Of the body
polite. Vet W. are continually acting
here and everywhere as il our in
tercsts pulled us apart instead Of draw
ing us together This apropos the fact
that several planters have recently eN-
pressed themselves to the writer in
term, inlmical to their agents Much
might be said on both sides of the con
troyer,y. But repetition OF charges and
counter charges could do no good,
might intensity bitter feeling and per
haps would prevent that final better
understanding for which we hope. 1t
is our purpose to consolidate, not to
divide We know what a hard, exacting.
uphill struggle many planters have
had. We also know how much anxiety
agents have undergone, and what grave
RESPONSIBILITIES they have undertaken,
in order to carry on plantations into
which they have gone on the
very advice OF planters who
were more enthusiastic than the
facts warranted. We are not prepared
to say that some planters have not
been extravagant and we know that in
some cases their agents have had to
pay for such extravaganza nor are We
prepared to deny that some agents
have taken advantage Of the necessi-
ties of their clients. But We think that
the rule has been creditablc to both
planters and agents. We think planters
generally have done their best to make
their plantations pay We think agents
generally have done their best to con
serve the best interests OF the planter:
for whom they acted. That there ha'
been cause for complaint on each sid,
is undeniable That there has beer
much misunderstanding, and, conse
quently, much mutual injustice, i
equally undenlabe, We think the bes
cure for this unfortunate condition o
things is to be found in a more periec
understandings between planters ant
agents. This can best be brough
about by more frequent visits to th
plantations by agem" One Ghacult.
has always been that agents hav
thought the estimates made b
planters for current expenses were to-
high, and have sometimes felt calle,
upon to cut down estimates to a pom
that planters believed to be not onl
un)ust but Gripping. This kind OF lr
Justice would be obviated by frequer
visits to plantations on the part {
agents, who ought 20 iamilarizc then
selves with every fGim OF plantatlo
work, Including all the agricultur.
methods, the milling and the uanspo
tation. LSe agent ought to kao7
whether 'he planters estimates al
excessive by knowing whether to
much is asked for cultivating the are
specified, for grinding and for all III
other expenses. 'lf my agent woul
get ottencr onto the hurricane deck
mule and ride over the fields wit
me, would see how and why spen
so much for fumes, for clearing ne
land, for nanuring old land, he wouldr
be so apt to speak OF me as a fello
with check book, whose principal ere
is weeds and needs, P" said planter Il
other day. After riding over goe
portion OF another plantation the writ
came to the conclusion that the plant
was not far wrong. 1t is worth moth
by other agents that the most popul
are those who visit plantations me
often and who post themselves mt
thoroughly concerning the details
plantation work.