The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-05-07
LETTER FROM
MOlOKAt ISLE

Editor Advertiser: AS my name has
appeared somewhat prominently in late
issues of your paper in connection with
your reports of Board of Health meet
ings, / would ask your valuable space
for few words in my own behalf. In
your issue of April 18th / notice that
Mr.. Reynolds calls ma Chronic kick
err so / propose to take up categori
cally the various matters mentioned in
that issue and show whether l can right
ly be called a "kicker'' or not
First, as to the short supply of bak-
ing powder During the month of March
for three weeks the people here In Ka-
lawao were compelled to take their ra-
tons of flour without the allowance of
baking powder which was rightfully
their due; the food giver stating that
there was none on hand. In letter to
DR.. Raymond, under date of April A.
called attention to this matter and asked
who was to blame for the people being
deprived for so long a time of-what was
rightfully their due. The only answer l
got was that the matter would be in
vestigated, and l would receive an an
swer later. Mr.. Reynolds makes a very
plausible excuse of failure to fill order,
bad weather. ETC., but fails to show how
1t is that shortages of that kind in the
peoples rations are never made good
when a supply arrives; nor Is his excuse
on April 3Oth the stock of baking pow
der is again short, and people have to
go without.
Second, in regard to the ration tickets
In the store, Mr.. Reynolds knows as well
as 1 do that the one contention that I
made was that the people did not get
the full value of their tickets. When
the system was first inaugurated by the
late Mr.. r. w. Meyer, the price, fifty
cents. was based on the then contract
price of paiai and ,ue storekeeper was
ordered to issue all food supplies on
those tickets at Honolulu cost price. The
tickets were afterwards stopped and 1t
is only a few months ago that they
were re-issued, the amount fifty cents,
remaining the same, although the con-
tract price of paiai. and rations of taro
grown here in the Settlement, had ad-
vanced to 57h cents; also, instead of
goods being issued at the cost price, they
were to be issued at the regular cash
selling price, meaning a profit to the
store of anywhere from 10 per cent up
to Is per cent and as high as 80 1-3 per
cent. For this reason l commended, and
still contend, that people do not get the
full value of their ration tickets; the
argument lately advanced that the goods
have been reduced to the contrary not
withstanding. Mr.. Reynolds tries to
make out that the way the tickets are
now issued is perfectly satisfactory to
everyone except me and a few others
who desire to set up an opposition store,
while at the same time he knows well
enough that others besides myself, who
know how they were formerly Issued,
have spoken to him on the same sub
ject. but, getting no satisfaction, gave
1t up, and are taking the tickets as best
they can get them
Third, and now, briefly. as regards the
matter of freghts Mr.. Reynolds makes
the statement that | was buying goods
in Honolulu and selling them to the peo-
pie, and that was the reason why was
refused permits. The truth of the mat
ter is this: l was ordering goods that
people wanted from Honolulu, because
in a good many instances they could not
get them In the store here, and, again,
where they could get them here, the
price was from 10 to 25 per cent higher
than / could get them for In Honolulu.
/ was delivering these goods here at
exactly the Honolulu retail price, and
simply asked for these permits To save
expense to the people for whom / Or
dered. The point OF this whole matter,
however, lies In thisi that, whereas, 1
had. as the saying goes, my little finger
In the business for few months, there
were others In the Settlement who nad
been IN n up TO the eyes ior years. and
nothing said about II by MIR. G. Is. x. or
any one else. So ! think any one can
readily see the cause for my charge Of
discrimination Finally, Ar, Reynolds
charges me with wishing. along with
others, ~ open an opposition store /
do not know what the IDEAS of these
others that ha mentions may be, for my
self I can say that I hnYa no particular
ambition IN that line, although as far
hH competing Win the board " EeAlth
Al Il "A A
capital could vary easily do that IA
quantity, quality ana price OF goods 81
Tered foT saia There are other natter
lhat I would Ike 30 touch on bus ! siH
Hhaid I have AlreaaY faf exceeded mY
limliai 81, Niih thankH ~ space grant
30 ftii respectfully
W4 CLARK
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