The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-06
LAND COMMISSION FOR
ISLAND ADMINISTRATION

Il Among the interesting statement
4 presented TO the Advisory Land Law
y Commission is one prepared by W. L
} Howard, Registrar of the Court of Ian,
\ Registration, repiete with suggestion
Y concerning land laws in the territory
n and compiled after long study of tbs
n general situation. His letter is as fol
\ lows:
My residence in the Islands has beer
| 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 beer Ei:tde 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-
tiers" are such that it seems to me
that no hard and fixed rules viii apply
to these conditions so constantly chang
ing; yet there may be certain basic
principles which, if well and judiciouslr
| 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 / 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 commonweaI 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.
NY first suggestion is that the adj
ministration of the land laws and their
application to specific tracts or condi-
tions, be vested in 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 fde
settler desiring agricultural lands may
get land without suffering nervous
prostration waiting for chance to es-
tablishing a home.
2 Law so that bona fde settlers
viii 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.
f. To one making continuous resi-
dence for, say, ten years, special in ,
ducements or privileges
5. Original valuation all the land is
worth without encumbrances such as
improvements, etc.
g. Valuations reduced in proportion ;
as residence required, improvements, !
etc. of the settler. !
z. Taxes same as on any other lands !
under similar conditions leased under
right of purchase by private individ-
lals #
s. Under right of purchase lease, :
law to apply as far as i'm
mediate family is concerned or those
dependent upon deceased.
9. Transfer allowed to bona fide {
settler for good cause, party selling to
conditions at time of sale, the improve
nents, any other value to accrue to the
Territory.
10. Land with water rights to have c
appurtenant only it's fair share to be
specified in detail.
II. In ont of way districts. special {
offered to get settlers. I'm Z
Ter R. of P. L. say either free rents for {
period or rent on basis of say 5 per
'ent of gross crops produced, with no a
axes for specific periods. the settler to f
Use ordinary skill in trying to produce ]
,rops in Judgment of the commission a
RS, and whose opinions as to amount
# same might be obtained in advance
or say each year at least.
II. Special inducements or privileges
o get settlers to forest or re-forest,
reeless tracts where desirable.
10. Area of land to each settler to
'e based upon fertility or it's being
With ordinary skill, able 60 produce a
living for the settler and his family of
ay $4,000 per year.
IA. Settlers employing only Ameri- c
an labor or those who may become d
americans. to have special privileges o
II inducements.
Is. Fifty per cent of sums received
rom sale and rentals of lands (under G
:. of P. L. to be used in judgment b
f the commissioners, to make surveys. A
Dads. Settlers advancing moneys for
hese purposes to get receipts on basis :,
e nraSnnt wnrth of navmants To he p