The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-11-17
THE RIVER PARK GROUNDS.


Editor Star: You have taken up
and advocated earnestly and forcibly
the governments immediate eNecu-
ton of the enactment by the last Leg
islature of legislation providing for
II public recreation ground at kahii,
setting apart a reservation of nearly
four acres, near the King street bridge
ito be known as River park, and to be
converted into free public recreation
ground and maintained as SUCH But
no special appropriation was made for
the necessary outlay in carrying out
this enactment, and while the Minis
ter of the Interior was "authoriZed
and directed" TO carry out this enact.
ment. and as it is not in the nature of
Specific fulhlment of a contract" the
Minister of the Interior is left, as in
other like legislation, to use his own
discretion as to the time in which he
will attend to this business. and TO
use his own Judgment as to its rela-
tive Importance, when so many other
public expenditures must be met in
his department.
Undoubtedly. i'm the view of the Cab
met Ministers. the income that might
have been derived from the rental of
the land for business purposes, bulk
ed more largely than the provision for
children's play ground. But in these
closing days of the nineteenth centu-
ry ethical and moral values have come
to have an importance transcendin%
merely commercial interests. Govern
ment is not considered to have met its
obligations by securing the citizens
personal rights. and maintaining the
stability of political institutions. The
welfare of the community as a body
corporate is to be regarded by the
government in the measures it adopts
and the policy it maintains. More en-
lightened. broader and more compre-
hensive views of governmental admin
istration are in these days very gener
ally and cogently advocated. The ev-
ills of Ignorance, vice, disease that are
brought in with the increase in the
congested population of city life are
working out their own cures through
the operation of the same motives that
lead to such congestion with all its at
tendant evils. 1t is a provision of ma
ture that the days grow shorter and
shorter as we near the winter solstice,
and it would seem as if daylight
would succumb finally TO darkness.
But the same forces that are shorten
ing the hours of daylight will soon OPP
crate to lengthen them again.
The motives that bring men togeth-
err to herd in such great Masses as
are found in all city communities, the
desire for fellowship and for such adj
vantages as can only be secured by the
cooperation of multitudes, will also
demand and ultimately secure such
conditions of life, wholesome and not
deadly. physically and morally, as
governmental legislation only can pro-
! vide. But it is no easy matter to
make men see the need of change in
the established order of doing things,
and government officials are especially
prone to get into routine ways, and
unable to get out of the ruts which
such ways make il easy TO fall into.
The newspapers of the city have
quite unanimously voiced the growing
public sentiment in favor of wise and
| liberal expenditure for the public
welfare. and particularly in matters
of public sanitation and recreation. As
| the government is now constituted,
| legislatng for the whole group, so
many lines of expenditure call for spe-
cial OUTLAWS it is not matter of as
constituent that the Minister of the
Interior should have to consider the
relative importance of the several
claims, and exercise his individual
Judgment in accordance with his per-
sonal preferences. But if Honolulu be
regarded. as it should be. as distinct
municipality with its individual and
special claims on public expenditures,
the Importance of carrying into effect
as soon as possible, as intelligently as
possible, the generous and hearty pro-
vision of the Legislature for public
recreation grounds. will loom up, as
quite as worthy of consideration as a
new powder house. or band stand for
the Sunday concerts.
TT