The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-10-09

Among the interesting Statements
presented to the Advisory Land Law
Commission is one prepared by W. l..
Howard, Registrar of the Court of Land
Registration, replete with suggestions
concerning land laws in the territory,
and compiled after long study OF the
general situation. His letter is as fol-
lows:
NV residence in the Islands has been
of nearly twenty years duration, the
last ten of which have been intimately
connected with matters concerning real
estate. During the last few years the
statements of many would.be settlers
have ben" made to me, as well as the
suggestions of those who took up pub
lie lands.
The varied nature Of our lands, our
climate varying from one extreme OF
moisture to the other of dryness, the
Temperature also so varied, combined
with the different classes of men who
are or might be interested as "set-
tlers'' are such that it seems to me
that no hard and fixed rules will apply
10 these conditions so constantly chang
ing; vet there may be certain basic
principles which, If well and judiciously
applied, would protect the public IN
terests as well as secure to the desir-
able settler the "home' which every
true American prides almost as much
as he does his birthright.
The administration of any law,
where discretion is in the power of one,
or one or two men, would naturally re-
suit in many difficulties. Whether from
defects in the land laws or in their
administration, and i have heard many
complaints regarding both, it seems to
me the facts today are that there are
many tracts of lands, private as well
as public, upon which it would be bet
ter for commonweal to have citizens
whose interests would be for good laws
and good government.
One defect in conditions here is that
so many otherwise desirable citizens
or would be- have homes upon leased
lands, and they are not as substantial
citizens, working for as permanent good
laws. as the man whose home is here for
good and all on fee simple land.
Commission.
My first suggestion is that the adj
ministration of the land laws and their
application to specific tracts or condi'
tions, be vested in n commission of five,
consisting of the Governor, Land Com
missioner, and three practical business
men.
I suggest the following principles to
be embodied in any revision of the
land laws:
/. Laws and conditions or avail
ability of land such that bona fide
settler desiring agricultural lands may
get land without suffering nervous
prostration waiting for chance to es
tablishing a home.
Q. Law so that bona fde settlers
win find it to their advantage to re
main on the land at least ten years.
3. Residence clause made not con
tinuous in special cases, so that one
may earn sufficient to keep up improve
ments as required while away from
the land.
4. To one making continuous resi-
dcnce for, say, ten years, special in
ducements or privileges.
5. Original valuation all the land i
worth without encumbrances such a
residence. improvements. etc.
@. Valuations reduced in proportion
as residence required, improvements
etc, of the settler.
7. Taxes same as on any other lands
under similar conditions leased unde
right of purchase by private individ
nails.
s. Under right of purchase lease
inheritance law to apply as far as i'm
mediate family is concerned or thos'
dependent upon deceased.
Q. Transfer allowed to bona i'd
settler for good cause, party selling t
conditions at time of sale, the improve