The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-11-12
REPORT OF CARL SMITH.

vi CAhlI OMllh.
Honorable w. F. Frear, Governor of
the Territory of Hawaii, Honolulu,
Oahu.
Sir: 1t was agreed by the Advisory
Land Law commission that meetings
should be commenced early in the
month of September and continued UNI
til the work allotted was completed
For the purpose of undertaking a study
of the land laws and attending such
meetings | have devoted the month of
September and part of the month of
October. Professional engagements
compelled my return to Hilo before the
final report of the Commission was
drafted for your consideration, and
since that time 1 have mad no oppor-
tunity to discuss the contents of such
report with my fellow members. In
deed, many or the questions raised
were left undecided before | was COM
PEELED to absent myself from the fur
Their deliberations from which l ex-
pected so much.
From the discussions which have
taken place / know that | differ from
some of my colleagues on subjects
which seem to me of considerable i'm
portance, and have reached the con-
clusion that such subjects should be
brought to your attention, so l find
myself obliged to submit a separate
report, which will probably contain
matters covered by the report submit
ed by the other members of the COM
mission. Not having had the advan-
tage of reading the majority l shall
be undoubtedly led to a restatement OF
several matters which need not have
encountered tho records of the cons
mission.
cannot account for the fact that so
few people attended the public meet
ings of the Commission held on the
islands of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and
Oahu otherwise than by concluding
that comparatively few people are now
interested in an amendment to the land
laws. On occasions, the Land Act of
1895, and the administration thereof,
have been the subject of caustic cri-
ticism. 1t will be recalled, however,
that aside from discussions in politi-
cal campaigns the public has been most
interested in the land laws at the
time of a prospective exchange of a
large tract At the present time there
are not in this Territory any consider
able number of persons who are an
Xious to enter upon public lands for
agricultural purposes and with bona
iide intention of maintaining a living
from the products of the land. If
any considerable quantity of land is to
be settled the nomesteaders must be
induced to come here from the main
land.
There appeared at our meetings very
few mechanics and wage earners who
wished to be heard upon the subject
under discussion. From these and from
/ ether observations which have been
able to make, l am brought irresist-
IDLY to the conclusion that the problem
confronting us is not one of land laws,
but is a broader and more serious eco
nomical problem. In settling up the
territory with an Independent, self
respecting and persevering class of
small land owners we shall be com
PEELED to go beyond the mere amend
ment of our land laws. The fact that
several hundred bona fide home-seek-
ers have attempted to find living on
the public lands of the first land dis
trict within the past ten years, and OF
these over So per cent have been fail
ures, lie one which must give us pause
The slightest examination of the sub