The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-12-22
AsNFORD'S GUhvA SPEECH.

states, at Inc N'oioA'' oN0
ing last Monday evening, denied that
there would be any advantage in a
new treaty with that country, and
asked sneeringly how much canned
goods-guava jelly, l9ineapples, etc.,
could we send to the United States.
With your permission L will state
few facts which may ,snlighten the
gentleman and those who hold SINH
lar views as to the poss Utilities of
these industries. Two years ago
when visiting the United States l
took with me quantity Of guava
jelly and canned pineapples, with a
view to placing them on the market.
At the port of San Francisco | had
to pay 35 per cent duty on these
goods, before they could be landed.
| placed samples with leading gro
GERS in San Francisco, Chicago, New
York and Boston, and in every in
stance had iattering statements as to
the superiority of our Hawaiian pro-
ducts over those at present in the
market-the jelly being much clearer
and having a well defined flavor of
the guava, the goods at present sold
under the name of guava jelly being
so dark in color and insipid to the
taste that there is very little demand
for them. The difference in the
pineapples as compared with those
in the market at the time was still
more marked On opening tin of
the Hawaiian pineapples, the aroma
peculiar to that fruit when ripe would
fill the room. The fruit proved to be
preserved in its natural color and
claimed unstinted praise from those
who ought to be considered judges
of such goods. The eastern brands
of these goods were white and almost
tasteless and there was not a trace of
the aroma found in the Hawaiian
pines. The only bar to my accept
ing orders for these goods at that
time was the duty of IS per cent
above noted.
| am perfectly satisfied as to what
demand there would be for our ISL
and fruits, even at small advance
Oh market rates of present competing
brands. There Is sale for tons of
guava jelly and the market for pine
apples during the first ten years of
free trade would be only limited by
the amount of production. Puha
jam and jellies would bring fancy
prices for the next twenty years, and
all our tropical products in the fruit
line could be experimental with in
the line of preserving them for mar
ket. Free trade would add 1000 to
the population of Kona, Hawaii, for
the cultivation of pineapples, where
the crops growing at present are
so unstable that they have no care
whatever, and the lands growing
those couple of guava bushes at Ma
noa would be homesteaded to pros
porous growers of this derided fruit.
No doubt Mr.. Ashford thought he
had an opportunity to score q former
colleague under cover of the canned
goods industry, but in doing so he
forgets that he treads on the toes of
a large number who have backed
their faith in diversified industries
by personal toll and cash-as witness
the extension of the pineapple in
dustry on this island alone. At the
rate of present planting, canning es-
adjustments will he the only hope of
our small farmers, as the production
will be limited to few months and
in the fresh state would glut the
market. We have but one alternat-
lve-make treaty with some friend
ly power that shall admit canned
goods the same as our other pro-
ducts, or many of our at present
small industries must collapse from
over production in the near future.
1t is poor argument (and no one
knows this better than Mr.. Ashford
himself) to say that we have treaty
to "a with the United States and
let us wait until that expires before
seeking more favorable one. The
condition of our country to day
makes it Imperative that something
to that effect be done as ex-
pedltiously as possible, and with
due regard for the interests of all
concerned. A treaty admitting
canned goods into the United States
free would give an impetus to the
fruit industry that would surprise
even Mr.. Ashford, for with the as
surance of market under all condi-
tons, the poorest man iu the land
could start to work, confident that
success and fair remuneration would
reward his efforts.
cannot believe Mr.. Ashford sin
cere in his utterances on this sub
ject. Ii he still has a pet scheme
for Canadian Influence, let him see
1t through before his proteeee is alb
Sorbed by the country whose treaty
relations he would have us believe
would prove disastrous to us. If he
IS so blind TO the efforts of a large
number of small farmers that will be
n the soup unless something is done
hen give us a rest on the score of
for the workingmen.
The proposed treaty is the only