Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-02-22
DR.. Maxwell Made
Favorable Impression

| Inc sugar journal ana tropical Culu-
vator, Queensland, says editorially:
| Too much Importance cannot be at
tached to the visit to this colony of
DR.. Maxwell, which is now drawing to
close. His report will, we believe,
be handed to the Government before
he sails for Honolulu, so that its con-
tents Will be before the sugar growing
public within the next month or two
| That his stay has been short may be
admitted, but 1t does not follow that q
| long stay was necessary to enable him
to accomplish the objects of the visit
however well pleased sugar manufac-
| turers and growers would have been to
| prolong the very interesting conversa-
lions which few of them have had the
good fortune to hold with him. Some
men live in the country all their lives,
and know nothing of It; others, and
DR.. Maxwell is one of them, are per-
fectly capable in a few weeks of grasp
ing full conception of the local condi-
tions and with that knowledge apply
ing the general principles which are
applicable all over the world, and
which Queensland has yet to thorough
ly learn rather than to impart to any
visitor. The objections therefore
raised in some quarters to the short
ness Of Dr.. Maxwell visit, leaving al
together out of the question the fact
that his convenience had Of necessity
to be consulted in the matter, may be
said 20 fall to the ground. He will have
been in the colony long enough to
thoroughly grasp with the readiness
of trained mind the essential condi-
tons OF the country, and IL is for the
very reason that he can do this that
such earnest efforts were made to in
duce him to come here. To one point.
before turning to the work the Doctor
has undertaken, we may allude, name
ly to the criticism in Parliament as
to the actual places to be visited by
him. Now not only were these criti-
cisms in the worst possible taste, but
they show the hopeless ignorance OF
the speakers on the main subject. II
DR.. Maxwell is so well informed on the
general subject Of sugar cultivation as
to make 1t worth the while of the
Queensland Government to secure his
opinion upon the industry in the col
ony, then surely DR.. Maxwell is far
better able than any other man in
Queensland to decide for himself after
inspecting the geological, climatic, and
industrial data of the various sugar
districts, which are the places most ne
cessary for him to visit. That a scien-
fist should be asked to report upon any
subject, and that then the benighted
individuals who are seeking for infor-
nation should proceed to lecture the
scientist as to how, when and where
he is to carry out the investigations
necessary to enable him to make his
report. shows Grass stupidity that re-
fleets little credit upon the Legislators
of the colony. II on the other hand the
criticisms to which we have referred
were made solely for the purpose OF
making political capital at the expense
Of one Of our industries, then they were
a gross injustice to the country and a
direct insult to the scientific gentle
man who at great inconvenience and
at no direct profit to himself accepted
the task Of enlightening us on a sub
ject which was causing the people of
the colony much anxiety. We may ex-
press hope that good taste and COM
mon sense will reign more firmly In
future in the legislature. AS for the
work done so far by DR.. Maxwell 1t
may be divided into two parts. He has
made his own observations as to the
conditions under which our industry
has been and is being carried on, and
he has also made the acquaintance OF
the men who are engaged in the work.
But he has done more. He has met u
considerable number OF our farmers
and manufacturers and told them
plainly his views upon many subjects.
out more especially has he laid dow
for them the broad general laws upon
which not only this industry, but every
industry must be carried out. He dia |
Queensland that they are a fine lot |
of fellows, VINO are the victims Of con.
tinued Ill fortune, but rather that they |
are trst like the sugar growers in |
Java, Hawaii. and the |
French colonies, and they are now |
suffering the same evil results OF past |
gong through The |
same crisis, and nearing the day of re-
IN the same way as the SUI
gar p, oducers have done and are now
doing in those other countries. That
no farmer who heard DR.. Maxwell for
half an hour would continue to be-
Iieve that there is royal road out Of
The present difficulties of the industry
may be taken for granted, our only
'egret is that, seeing he was prepared
% talk to the farmers, and he can talk =,
pleasantly and fluently and probably,
he necessary arrangements Were not !.
made to enable the farmers to meet !
him in larger numbers. We are not
prepared to say that he would have
consented to such an arrangement him
self, but we do think he might have
lone so. 1t Is certain that some Of the
conditions in Queensland, especially
IS regards the small farming system,
nd the comparative independence of
he farmnr as to how he grOWS his