Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-10-02


statute was drafted, and indicated
that 1t was done especially for the
benefit. of the two companies com
hined in the Maui Agricultural Com
pany.
Mr.. Thurston made statement of
the circumstances surrounding the
Olaa Plantation. which has been &C
cnsed of reducing its payments to
planters for small crops, OF 80 per
cent, from the rates paid in former
Years.
He said that when he first went
into the sugar planting business he
was enthusiastic over the small
homesteader, and having charge of
the contracts. gave the small plant
ers far better terms than any of the
other plantations would do, Eyentt-
ally be had about 400 such contracts
out, and some three or four years ago
discovered to his chagrin, that only
one white planter actually remained
on the land, the others applying alb
! sentee landlordism, leasing to for
eigners. Homestead conditions were
not improved, he found, and the plan.
itation found itself under a bonded
debt of $780, 900. A large number of
these homeseeaders were finally
bought in by the Olaa Plantation.
these purchases amounting to about
81 1885, 00 He said the corporation,
Dow in its thirteenth year, has never
Jet paid dividend.
Then the contract was reduced to-
make up for the extra high previous
one, probably to terms lower than
what the corporation really needed to
live on, yet liberal enough to still
enable the small growers to make
good profit on their crops.
Some of those homesteaders who
have offered to pay all expenses, call.
ing on the mill only to take their
crop and pay them the cash, he said
have received little better terms
than others for whose crops the mill
is required to assume some RESPONSE
bility.
Thurston reinterated the statement
of other sbig planters, that the white
man is inclined to keep away from
actual manual labor in the fields.
Mr.. Ivers was then called and ask
| ed for information on contracts be.
tween plantations and growers. He
told of the new contracts he had
drawn, after a careful study Of condi-
| tons, that was intended to be fair to
mill and homesteader alike. .t
Regarding the contract used at Ko-
hala, Mr.. Fisher remarked that the
sliding scale did not provide for cane
having sucrose content Of less than
81, per cent. lvers agreed IL was
hardly fair, though arguing that cane
seldom has less sucrose content than
that, and explaining that such sliding
scale does provide for rates for cane
under 81 per cent analysis in the case
of the plantation at Hilo.
Figuring out his contracts on the 4
cent market basis, Ivers Said that in
3-year period the cost to the grow
err per acre would be SLOT. He would
receive, figuring IS tons of cane per
acre, 1871 or a profit of $42 per acre,
not counting out the interest on the
money invested.
He gave figures showing what he
thought the small grower shouId
make per acre with New York Amar-
ket prices at various points, and the
production OF different amounts per
acre.
He explained that the San Carlos
contract, given in the Philippines is
about 50 per acre more favorable to
the small grower there than in these
Islands
The Secretary then began an in
quiry into immigration matters. Iyers
in answer to Mr.. Fishers statement
that he understood abuse of the pri-
viIege was made in importing Fill
pinos. in that they were not exam
ined carefully enough.
! Ivers replied that Federal officials
have entire charge Of such examina-
ions and are responsible.
; The Secretary said that he had been
Informed by responsible plantation
nen, who for obvious reasons did not
! Gre to have their names given, that
immigrants had been forced to lea"c
TIN immigration station and some
tines to go TO certain plantations
. wHn they wanted to go TO others, or
I to lone at all
" Ivers said that a few instances
had occurred in which he had com
they didn't want to go away from II
at al and had already lOtPred around
for a long time, living off the Terri
tory.
J In answer to a question from olson,
Ivers said no mere labor contracts
are nRdr by plantations with lmml'
Continued on page B.