The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-11
THURSDAY November 18th.
THE DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES
ARGUMENT.

In common with our contemporaries,
we have frequently advocated the estab-
lishment of diversified industries" We
approved of the parliamentary aid TO the
ranie, cinchona and taro flour indus
tries, because we thought that sutii-
cient bounty might carry each OF them
over the initial stages of development.
In some respects these industries are the
very best that could be selected for ex-
pertinent. There is home market for
taro, at least sufficient to make it pay
ing business if judiciOusly managed; but
a foreign market is needed to make 1t
great success. 1t requires money, great
business tact and energy TO introduce a
new article of food, but once successfully
introduced and established the future OF
the business is assured unless fraudulent
practices are resorted to. If adulteration
is not practiced we have no doubt re-
garding the ultimate demand for tarO
flour from abroad We therefore think
that the bonus authorized by the Legis-
lature to encourage its export was i'll the
line of practical business expansion, and
it should be sufficient to Introduce this
new article of food in the American and
British markets
In the ease of cinchona and ramie
there is no home demand, but there is
an unlimited foreign one Unfortunately
for the experiment of Mr.. Purvis OF Ha-
wall, the production of cinchOna has
been greatly increased OF late with a
corresponding reduction in the price OF
quinine as a commodity of commerce,
and therefore We think the bounty
authorized to be paid him was at once
polite and well-deserved. twill enable
him to prosecute his experiment upon
more hopeful anticipations of ultimate
success, and encourage him to continue
it to the point where the returns from
the bark make it paying venture. In
the case of ramie everything will depend
upon the machine doing the work fol
which it was built. The experimental
crop of ramie is doing well, and in a few
months the country should know the re-
suit. If successful, ramie will ultimately
become as important an industry as
sugar That it may fall out so Is the
sincere wish OF everyone.
But having mentioned these three
Industries" which are simply in the
experimental stage, what is there left
except sugar and rice? Coffee may ulti
mately come TO the fore; at present it Is
70
may be that a remedy for the blight vii
be discovered, or that conditions OF soil
aspect and shade may be found to sui
the requirements OF the coffee plant or
these Islands, but these are factors un
known at the present time. We art
therefore compelled to fall back upor
sugar and rice as the staple industries O
the country. OF the first Of these, sugar
it is not too much TO say that despite the
fertility Of the soil and the large and in
creasing yield, the plantations could no
pay with existing expenses if the Reel
procity Treaty with the United State.
were not in existence. This Treaty, b!
securing us a free market in a pro
tected" country of practically unlimited
consuming power, has enabled ou
Island planters to pay far higher range
of wages than prevail in other sugar
producing countries, high rates of inter
est on money, and eXtravagant rates O
living. Let the Treaty be abrogated
however, and the conditions of produc
ton must undergo a radical change; 5,
also must the conditions OF living on tn,
Islands. Money will always bring it
price, and therefore the rate of interes
need not be considered in this relation
1t follows therefore that the sugar in
dustry upon which the commerce of the
country has been built, is by no means
free from the element Of speculation
It's future, in large degree, depends upoI
b friendship and goodwill OF tn,
United States Government, and no
upon anything which the planters may
say or do ON their own account. AnC
so also IN degree the same may be sale
OF rice. 1t is admitted into the United
States free by Treaty, and it Is this ad