The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-01-23
ARE PLANTERS
IN EARNEST2
Continued from mage one.

cable to the effect that Atkinson had
started. He did not believe that a
start had been yet made.
Cooke brought up the matter which
has been worrying the Board right
along by asking Tenney what his firms
plantations intended to do towards Civ
ing land to settlers. OF all the plan
tations who had been addressed on the
subject, only six had responded.
Tenney said that he had not taken
up the matter so far and he pointed
out that they could not give land at
Eva as it was leasehold. OF course
houses could be built for them. At
Waialua they could be given houses
and lots. They could cultivate the land
and raise cane on shares if they wish
ed. His experience at Waialua was
that the Portuguese there did not cul-
tivate the land they had.
I'm not in favor of bringing settlers
here unless they can be given homes"
said Craig "Of course l know that all
the plantations cannot give land, but
many can and those that can should
show their good faith"
well, take the placing of a hundred
families at Waialua," said Tenney,
suppose they were given an acre each
and a house. That would cost between
$780, 900 and $4,000. Then there are the
fares, say there would be about four
adult fares TO a family, and that's a
low estimate there is $4,000 more. 1t
would cost about 100000 in all"
do you want the labor or do you
not?" asked Craig bluntly. IF you
want to bring these people, you will
have to pay for it,"
1T has been my experience invaria-
bly, that the people who know best how
to run plantations are those who have
never had anything to do with them"
remarked Tenney caustically but Craig
only smiled. Millions of dollars have
been spent on these islands to bring
Portuguese here"
Yes and Thurston says that $780,
900 was spent last year in bringing in
Asiatics," Tetorted Craig.
IF Thurston said that he does not
know what he is talking about" said
Tenney.
'Well I'm not sure as to the figures
but directly and indirectly it amounted
to about that" came back Craig.
Neither directly nor indirectly nor
in any other way was such money
spent" insisted Tenney and the subject
was dropped.
"The feeling of some members of
the board, a feeling which l share is
that there are members of the Planters
Association who are not prepared to
IL ,,ier In
a long conversation with a prominent
member the other day and asked him
If his people were willing to give land.
He said that they could employ about
$50 families but that they would decide
on the terms after the people got here.
That is a nice sort of cooperation for
the Board to get! Atkinson's success
i'm Washington has been won on the
ground that we i'm Hawaii are pre-
pared to domicile these people and this
has won the support of the authorities.
1t will be a bad business indeed If we
break faith with them. The planta-
tions ought to be prepared to give
these people land. OF course those
that have leased lands cannot give
land in fee to settlers but there are
others than can and these should come
forward"
He stated that 925 families could be
provided for on the Kahuku, Maui
Agricultural, Olaa, Hawaiian CONNER
cial and Kihei plantations, upon which
Tenney said that employment could
be assured $50 at Eva and $50 at Waia-
lua, he believed.
1T will take you many months to get
five hundred families here" added
Tenney 1T will keep you busy for
twelve months"
"Oh time does not seem to matter to
the planters" said Cooke. 1--WE sent
out our notices seven months ago and
only six out of fifty have answered so
far. They postpone and postpone ac-
tion and simply play with the board.
We have not been dealt with fairly
think though from what Mr.. Tenney
has said we can safely go ahead
though"
Tenney stated his belief that the
prospective immigrants should be
thoroughly advised as to the different
propositions. Some would prefer to
go where they could own land and
others would be certain to prefer high
err wages where they owned no land.
Others might prefer TO raise cane on
shares. All of these would be found
among the people who came. This
view was accorded i'm by the other
members of the board.
Then the board faded away. There
was nothing before the chair, not even
a motion to adjourn.