The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-24
HELP THE NEW INDUSTRIES.

tAlt BlpltltJlC AlANtAAltl AfAA IAtteAAAC--
IN British Guiana furnishes lot OF
interesting facts from which the
people OF this country may draw
valuable conclusions. British Gul-
ana Is now suffering from general
business depression, because all the
people put all their money into
sugar Sugar has been king. For
sometime past it has brought gen
eral prosperity. Now prices are
low, competition sharp; sugar Is
still king, but it no longer goes
hand III hand with prosperity. The
people find themselves on the verge
of bankruptcy and are beginning
to ask what IS the matter.
The answer Is simple enough.
British Guiana citizens put all
their eggs III one basket. They
have no industry TO turn to that
will tide them over the present sea-
son of depression. They are eX-
periencing what is liable to happen
in Hawaii almost any day unless
the people and the Government
take an active interest in promOt-
ing new lines of industry.
The latter part of February, DIR.
ID. Morris, a recognized authority
on the agricultural condition of
British Guiana, gave lecture ON
"Minor Industries, in the city of
Georgetown. He told the assem-
bled capitalists that what the coun-
try needs is greater Investigation
of agricultural industry. He told
them they should make start in
the production of rice, coffee and
cocoa. The wise capitalists made
all kinds of objections TO the sug-
gestions made. They said they had
tried these and other new indus
tries and had made failures. One
speaker said it was useless to speak
of minor industries so long as the
staple industry Is not in fourishing
condition. Make lis safe and
comfortable with sugar, then we do
not mind risking a little in coffee
and cocoa" was his argument. But
this same speaker could not explain
why it was that in the years of
saccharine prosperity, the minor
industries had been cast aside.
Hawaii is today a step or two i'll
advance of the British West Indies.
1t has good seized rice industry,
and coffee Is fairly well under way.
The principal requirement in coffee
Is more cooperation among the
planters Coffee growing in 11a-
wall has peculiarities of It's own.
The authority from Guatemala,
Brazil or Ceylon finds his general
rules apply, but many questions
of detail must be dealt with in
"A peculiarly Hawaiian fashion.
The planter must adapt himself to
Hawaii. not Hawaii to the coffee
planters previous theories.
Nothing will promote the inter
ests of the coffee planters here,
more than an experiment station
conducted by the Government.
Every planter of the country
would share in the benefits. The
coffee industry deserves d larger
share of national funds than sugar
or rice, simply because the latter
are we'll on their feet and can go
it alone" Coffee and every other
young and struggling industry
should he given every assistance
possible from the Governmental
cash box. Sugar Is now prosper
Gus king, but we should draw les
son from the countries that have
found by bitter experience that
sugar may become bankrupt
king. Now, while we are enjoy
ing affIuence, Is the time to pave
the way TO continued industrial
stability. The experiment station
has long been talked Of 1t Is
high time for it TO he in practical |