The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-08-28


ture seemed 70 pay no attention whateve
to the small farmer and small producer
The freight on bananas at 50 cents buncI
would be SIS ton, while sugar was carries
/ for 81 a ton The bananas are placed wher
/ they could put nothing else. He had con
ferred with number of people and found
/ that the banana raisers got very little re
! turns for their fruit. This particular in
dustry was in the hands OF the Hawaiian
people. Apples from New York 70 Liver
pool were carried ct 40 cents barrel. The
voyage was longer, and barrel took uI
more room than q bunch OF bananas
They would find the steamer would not
leave any bananas behind if the freight
was reduced. II the House did not want
to do anything for the small producers by
helping their industry all well and good.
Mr. Hayselden said he did not want TO
see the line taken off.
His Excellency Mr.. Creighton asked that
the report OF the committee on the banana
petition be read
Mr.. Thurston said he knew OF one
banana raiser who sent 100 punches TO the
Coast and and the total profit for the lot
Was pl ~ -AllOliAGI sent 4Ct blAANlit-S anu
received a bill from his agent stating that
he was 50 So in debt.
His ExcelIency Mr.. Creighton said it
was a very unwise policy for the House to
attempt to regulate freight charges by
transportation companies by law. If the
freight were fixed by law for bananas. it
should also be fixed on sugar and all other
articles OF export If that were done, the
result would be to drive the steamship
lines off the trade. He did not know
whether 80 cents per bunch was enough,
but in his judgment competition alone
would regulate such charges. 1t had been
stated that when there was competition be
tween steamship lines from this port to
the Coast the freight was 30 cents per
bunch; when competition ceased, the nat
ural result followed, that freight was adj
vanCed to a paying rate. But the figure
did not affect the principle, which held
good whether the amount was 80 cents or
IS cents. He did not think there was any
need in referring this question to a com
mittee. 1t had been adversely reported
upon by the Committee on Commerce,
and if it were referred back they would re-
turn the same report. He did not attach
much weight to the remarks of the Hon.
Mr. CleghOrn with regard to the freight on
apples between New York and Liverpool.
Four or five years ago so great was the
steamship competition that a bonus was
actually paid for wheat cargOes across the
The result was that a great
many shipping firms failed, and large
number of steamers were laid off. This |
led to an advance in freights, of which !
those who survived the crisis reaped the |
advantage. Something had been said
about the fruit shipments from California. |
He was aware that an active agitation in |
favor of the regulation of railroad freightS |
had been carried on for several years in |
leading to repeated changes of
but it had all ended in a |
between the fruit producers |
and the railroads. This question of freight |
could be settled in the same manner, and !
without resort to legislation.
Mr. Dole said that if there was competi- |
ton there would be no subsidy. AS there |
was no competition they had a right to make |
I contract. The House had awarded the !
Oceanic Steamship Company the sum of |
so, 900 as a subsidy for the next two years, |
and why should they not consent to the |
reduction in freight on bananas and help |
his industry. The business in the districts |
where this industry was carried on is bad. |
Several of the producers had come to grief |
owing to the depression. Fifty cents was |
good freight on each bunch and adequate
% the service performed. He had talked |
he matter over with Mr.. w. G. Irwin and /
hat gentleman never intimated to him
hat the line would be withdrawn if the |
reight on bananas was reduced to fifty
,ents. Having given Mr.. Spreckels $40 900,
he could afford to do little for the pros
Derity of this industry.
His Excellency Mr.. Dare said the Oceanic
steamship Company had line of steamers
md they do not belong wholly or in part
o the Hawaiian Government. They are
simply employed by the Hawaiian Govern
nent to carry the mails twice a month.
This subsidy was for carrying the mails,
md did not confer a right to dictate
Is freight charges. That right was
lot secured in the law of 1884 In
Jew of the fact of the Oceanic Com
,any being subsidized in preference to
my other, the House should not use the
advantage to the disadvantage of the
Mr. Thurston had mentioned
he loss of two parties on bananas. That
vas always to be expected. In 1873 he
the speaker) consigned three ship loads of
wheat to England and was out $25, 900.
lie had paid as high as s. bunch for Ha
yaiian bananas, and 81 so for equally good
ruit. The very moment they reduce the
reight the middle man will step i'll and
make profit.
Mr.. Castle supported the amendment,
md argued that inasmuch as the Oceanic
steamship Company was to receive a sub
Idly, it was proper that the Legislature
hould fix the rate of freight on bananas,
which could not now be cultivated and
hipped at profit. The freight should be
aduced to an amount which would enable
his to be done This was not now the
ase.
His Excellency Mr.. Creighton asked
whether Mr.. Castle meant to contend that
transportation company should be COM
elled to make good any loss that might
ccrue upon freight carried by it. That
1as the logical outcome of his argu-
aent.
Mr. Castle said that was not the point.