The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-07-30
PUBLIC COMMITTEE MEETING.

in the rooms OF the Chambcro of Com
merce, on Saturday afternoon The
meeting was public, and was called
TO order by Hon NJ. T.. Robinson,
who stated that the object of
the meeting was to discuss the pro-
priety of the bill now before the
Legislature, to encourage the cult
walton of coffee.
Among those present were Hons.
ID. ii. Hitchcock, j. ID. Paris, G.. n.
Wilcox, L. II. Bailey, IL. p. Bald
win, W. O. Smith, Jas. Wight, ~
Z. Kalaukoa, j. L. Kawainui, a,
Jaeger, III. 5. Townsend, Minister
of the Interior, l.. A. Thurston, and
Messrs. Anterior, Forsyth, Graen-
halgh, Rowell, w, w. Hall, and j.
NJ. Monsarrat.
Those who spoke on the question
expressed willingness to support
measure, that had for its object tie
encouragement of an industry that
may in any way develop the re-
sources of the country. There was
some diversity in opinion in regard
to the mode of cultivation of coffee,
and the manner in which subsidy
should be paid, but all favored Gov
eminent aid in the matter.
Minister Thurston said that as
the introducer of the bill he would
like to say few words. He thought
that the Government should take
hold of the matter and bring it up
promptly, and not have it drag
along. If there is loss the Gov
eminent will stand one half of it,
and if there is gain the Govern
ment will share in such gain. At
the end of four years, the enterprise
will be fully tested, and during that
time the Government will have
say in the management of the
affairs of the company, and as pro-
vided by the bill everybody can
know by referring to the reports
that will be issued periodically just
how the company stands financially.
He said that rather than let this
thing go by he should urge the Gov
eminent to take hold and make it
purely Government matter.
Mr.. Anterior said if this meeting
represented the interest of the pub
lie in the cultivation Of coffee there
was no interest, and it seemed to
him that the meeting should be
postponed until the public could be
got together. He said that if the
blight could be guarded against
Government aid would not be asked,
as there was plenty of capital ready
for investment, but private enter
prise did not want to take hold of
this matter while the returns are 50
uncertain. He thought that with
the aid from the Government as
specified in this bill a company could
be formed without any trouble.
Mr.. Wight said that his exper-
fence was that the coffee grown in
the Hilo district was worthless, that
the best coffee was raised in Kona,
and that Kohala produced very
fair grade of coffee, but not equal
to that raised in Kona. He sug-
gested the idea of giving a bonus on
every pound of coffee.
The Minister of the Interior said
that would not give favorable re-
suits, as one year certain number
of pounds of coffee might be raised
and exported, and then again for
two or three years there might be
no coffee raised and exported, and
the next Legislature would consider
that an appropriation for the pay
ment of such bonus was not neces-
sary, and consequently would not
pass it.
Mr.. Baldwin said that we have the
soil and climate here for the pro-
duction of certain agricultural pro-
ducts, and he thought the govern
ment should subsdise enterprise
that will tend to develop the indus
tries of the country. If we decide
that the encouragement of the cult
walton of coffee is an object worthy
of our support, then the only ques-
ton to settle is how shall we subsi-
disc it. He thought it would be
harder to float a company to carry
out this enterprise, than to get the
bill through the House.
Mr.. w. w. Hall spoke in favor of
the subsidy and urged the support
| of the bill.
Mr.. Jaeger said he was in favor
of the enterprise, but was not salts
fed about the amount to be paid
out of the public purse and the
locality suggested.
Mr.. Thurston said of this bill
passed there was good prospect of
a company taking hold of the mat
ter at once, and the question of
locality would be decided by them.
Mr.. Forsyth explained the manner
of growing coffee in Ceylon, and
also the mode of transportation
from the plantation where grown to
the factory where cured.
Hln, q 4