The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-23
TUESDAY November sd
" SMALL INDUSTRIES -

1t is not the part Of wisdom 10 despise
small industries. These 20 to make up
the general prosperity Of a country, Just
as one or two leading Industries build up
those engaged in them, and aid in de-
veloping the lesser ones. We have com
paratiyely few small industries estab-
lished on these Islands, but If the coun-
try Is to be held together at all it viii be
by extending and encouraging them.
The great drawback is the want OF thrift
among all classes Of people. The native
Hawaiians are unthrifty and prodigal to
a fault. They take no heed for the
morrow" and are gradually permitting
their little homestead plots to pass out Of
their hands, trusting to Providence for
what may follow, If they chance to think
about it at all The Portuguese are
more thrifty, and if they could buy a few
acres Of land on reasonable terms, they
would nearly all become producing set
tiers and establish small industries on
their own account. As matters now
stand, however, they are cTowding into
the city, adding to its population without
a corresponding increase to the products
Of the country. 1t il too soon to speak
Of the japanese as probable permanent
settlers. In time they may be ex-
pected to take kindly to the soil and be-
come identified with the Hawaiian future
at present, their intentions in this re-
spect do not appear With regard to the
Chinese, their thrift and perseverance,
are proverbial, but they do not become
permanent settlers as a general rule,
even though they marry and cohabit
with native women. They are success
ful, however, IN establishing small in
dristries, and in contributing to the gen
eral comfort OF the consuming classes.
Indeed, were it not for Chinese market
gardeners, everything in the shape OF
garden truck would necessarily be i'm
ported from the Coast, because the ma
tives would not apply themselves to this
kind of productive labor and the Portu-
guese could not afford to pay the exor-
bitant rents demanded for suitable land
and hope to support their families.
To stimulate small industries there
fore it wiIl be essential to ensure cheap
land. Agriculture lies at their very
foundation. But agriculture cannot be
prosecuted upon anything like a paying
basis on existing conditions as to land
tenure and rent. To show what might
-. =. Al.
these conditions favorable reference may
be made to a report by U. S. Consul
Mason, from Marseilles. in which ne di-
reefs special attention to the fact that
for nearly a century the cultivation Of
flowers and manufacture Of perfumes and
essences have formed a special and lucra-
tive industry in Southern France. The
American demand for perfumery is prac-
tically unlimited, and this guarantees a I
market for all that may be produced
here. The soil and elevation Of these
Islands In many parts are specially
adapted Tor prosecuting this industry /
In France the non-edible and bitter
brigadier orange or the bergamot are
grown upon elevated positions, and their /
flowers are used exclusively for the pro-
duction OF perfume. The blossom Of the /
edible orange cannot be used for that /
purpose. A summary Of this valuable /.
report is published in the San Francisco |
"Call, +" which we reprint elsewhere for |
general information and guidance Of /
anyone who may conclude to test this I
industry on however small a scale.