The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-04-24
FRUIT SHIPPING
BOUNTY Il [
VIEWS OF A FRUIT GROWER
SUGGESTS THAT BOUNTY BE
FOR REAL SERVlC.I.

EDITOR STAR:-As a fruit grower
would like to offer some sugges-
lions as to House Bill 1876 providing
a bounty to shipping companies car
rying fresh fruit. Not having read
the bill 1 am not prepared to speak
on the bill as formulated, but this
Territory should be careful to guard
the growers interests; which is SCI
dom done in bills passed ostensibly
for the benefit of the agricultural
classes, yet who are seldom partici-
pants in benefits of bounties to the
extent they should be. AS an exam
ple-the bounty of one and a half
cents per pound placed on beet sugar
by the Federal government. During
the last year of the bounty, one fac
tory in Southern California, realized
S10,000.00; more than enough rom
the bounty to pay for all the beets
used that season; yet the price paid
to growers for beets was so low
that most of them came out in debt;
not realizing enough to pay for grow
ing the crop; the next year they
unitedly refused to enter into any
contract to grow crop; the rae
tory people then raised the price,
notwithstanding the fact that they
would not get the bounty Of one ana
one half cents on the next crop;
proof that they could we'll afford TO
pay more for the beets; yet during
the life of the bounty they got all
the benefit and the growers moth
ing.
Now if the people of this Territory
are to be taxed, fruit growers inclr
ed,-for the purpose or paying any
transportation company a bounty, lei
us be sure they will make good by
LIST. providing a modern up-to-date
fruit transportation service. End. pay
the bounty only on such fruit as they
deliver to destination in good order.
3rd. Make the bounty a certain raCe
per pound on all shidmenJ, with the
condition that the charge to growers
shall not exceed say $500 per ton or
1000 lbs; (not Al cubic feet as the
basis is now,) for all shipments in
open storage; and not exceeding
$1,000 per ton on cold storage. The
present rates are $3.50 per ton, 40
feet cubic measure; the equivalent of
about $500 per ton weight in open
storage, and $4,000 per ton weight
cold storage.
At the present time fruit shipped in
open storage spoils so badly that there
is no profit in shipping 1t paying
better to sell pineapples to the can
neries at lower pr.ce; while the rate
of two cents per lb. cold storage is
prohibitive. I have been informed
that pineapples are shipped from Cape
Town S. A. in cold storage for $500
per ton, taking a trip of 81 days. II
this is true a seven days trip roI
$1,000 per ton is surely a paying pro
position. Besides this, the proposed
bonus would add materially to the
earnings. This bounty should be a
storage; and $500 per tin in cold stor
on fresh fruits and vegetables in open
storage; and $500 per to min cold stor
age. providing a sum not exceeding
$4,000 per year shall be paid, and If
the limit shall be reached before the
fiscal year expires, the bonous shall
cease until the next fiscal year be
gins; when the bonous shall be re
newed; providing that only those
/ transportation companies who have
complied with the conditions and fur
nished satisfactory service for the fur
fiscal year previous, be entitled tc
share the benefits the ensuing year.
If such a plan, giving satisfactory
protection to our interests can be EN-
bodied in the act, would say it would
be a very good thing for the Legisla
ture to enact such law; otherwise
not
Your truly,
TAXPAYER.
1on1