The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-07-16
The Arcade ~EGAN & co,
Leader Of Low Prices.
PUBLIC COMMITTEE MEETING.

of the Legislature on commerce met
in the rooms of the Chamber of Com
merce, on Saturday afternoon. The
meeting was public, and was called
to order by Hon NJ. =. 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.
d. II. Hitchcock, j. d. Paris, G.. n.
Wilcox, +. II. Bailey, II. p. Bald
win, w. O. Smith, Jas. Wight, A.
p. Kalaukoa, j. u. Kawainui, A,
Jaeger, II. S. Townsend, Minister
of the Interior, l.. A. Thurston, and
Messrs. Atherton, Forsyth, Graen-
halgh, Rowell, w w. Hall, and j.
NJ. Monsarrat.
Those who spoke on the question
expressed a willingness to support a
measure, that had for its object the
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 q
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 il
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 tc
him that the meeting should be
postponed until the public could bt
got together. He said that if the
blight could be guarded against
, Government aid would not be asked
, as there was plenty of capital read.
for Investment, but private enter
prise did not want to take hold o
this matter while the returns are s
, uncertain. He thought that wit
= the aid from the Government a
! specified in this bill company coul
o be formed without any trouble.
Mr.. Wight said that his exper
fence was that the coffee grown i
the Hilo district was worthless, tina
the best coffee was raised in Kona
and that Kohala produced yer.
fair grade of coffee, but not equi
. to that raised in Kona. He sug
= gested the idea of giving bonus o.
every pound of coffee.
= The Minister of the Interior sal
y that would not give favorable re
" suits, as one year certain numbe
. of pounds of coffee might be raise
and exported, and then again fc
J two or three years there might b
Z. no coffee raised and exported, an
:, the next legislature would considt
- that an appropriation for the pay
- ment of such bonus was not nece
= sary, and consequently would NJ
- pass it.
Mr.. Baldwin said that we have tn
soil and climate here for the pr
= duction of certain agricultural pr
- ducts, and he thought the govern
~ ment should subsidise enterpri:
- that will tend to develop the indu
tries of the country. If we decc
that the encouragement of the cult
walton of coffee is an object wortl
II of our support, then the only que
~ ton to settle is how shall we subs
~ disc it. He thought it would |
- harder to float a company to carr
-, % out this enterprise, than to get IL
~ bill through the House.
w. Mr.. W. w. Hall spoke in favor
., the subsidy and urged the suppo
~ of the bill.
r. Mr.. Jaeger said he was in fav
- of the enterprise, but was not sat-
~ fed about the amount to be pa
- out of the public purse and t
al locality suggested.
~ Mr.. Thurston said of this b
r. passed there was a good prospect
~ a company taking hold of the ms
% ter at once, and the question
g locality would be decided by the
~ Mr.. Forsyth explained the mann
~, ~ of growing coffee in Ceylon, a
= also the mode of transportati
-, - from the plantation where grown
- tba fontor,r yvbara nupa1