The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-09-13

kind,
Secretary Fisher then took hand In
the Inquiry by asking Mr. Ashford ~
BE- thought ID would be an abuse -
discretion 60 get settlers from the
mainland, " the attempt bad actually
been madei
"No. not at an. but u there had
been any discrimination against local
people I should call IL an abuse Of
discretion, said the attorney for the
Delegate.
'tbo you think immigration from
the mainland IL Objectionable
Ono, the Delegate is on record ~ IN
favor Of such.
Mr. Olson, on behalf Of the Governor
asked some questions and received the
reply that Mr.. Aiken considered the
Haiku homesteading the first real
homcstcading attempt. There were
houscn costing from $500 TO $4,000 going
up Most of the lots were now being
cleared and being prepared for pine
npnles.
Asked what the occupation of Nelson
Koloa Is, Mr.. Aiken replied that just
now he appeared TO be the regular
walking delegate for the Democratic
party.
"'rhat is not prohibitive trade, F"
snid the Secretary, amid laughter.
Mr.. Aiken said he felt strongly on
the question of discretion. He did not
want the old law changed and opposed
| IL. The Hawaiian land situation is so
different from anything else or else
where. Lands that looked well on the
maps were often incapable of develop
mcnt or use, some being 10000 feet
| .I. rNat In
amount of discretion given to the Gov.
ornor before the law was changed. The
government is now placed nt the mercy
of applicants, and this is wrong. He
preferred tho New England law where
worthy.
Loans on Homesteads.
Governor Frear threw some light on
the use of the lands ms security for
lonns Under the old system, now
changed, the homestcadcr could throw
up his hoinestond and 90 TO the other
side Of the world. The government had
to appraiso his improvements - his
housc--and then, when the homestead
was rcsold, deposit the money and wait
for him TO turn up. That has beer
changed. He spoke of one homcsteadel
at Haiku who had borrowed $500 from
Maui bank, his crop and land being
taken for security. However, the Law
, does not permit the bank or corpora
ton TO buy in the land in the even
. Of foreclosure but must find bona fid
a homesteader to purchase it. Unde
foreclosure the land could not be sol'
!, TO nm alien, or corporation, or one VIII
owns land already, only to homestead
. or. The Governor stated that thi
amendment had been approved Of b.
the Delegate before being sent on t
Washington for approval by congress
% "That is right, said the Delegate
: Tho Governor went on to say that h
hcsitated about having 80 much discr'
tion and had submitted an alternat
plan when arguing the bill before th
n congressional committee.
Il Some question arose as to rates {
~ interest in the Territory, replies bein
N made by l.. Tenney Peck, cashier {
- the First National Bank of Honolulu
+. who said the legal rate was eight p'
p cent, although he had favored sevel
lie did not know much about the usnI
N rate as he had never come in conta'
~ with it. Endorsed paper was seven M
:. eight per cent. His highest loan ha
n been at nine per cent.
pr Homestead Methods.
ie Secretary Fisher turned to Mr.. AS
10 ford and asked:
"Now with regard to the differel
:, classes or different methods of hom
w. steading-how many methods of HON
Bteading do you understand are ava
=, able here on the IslandsP'
...I. 10 Nla
'" year lease.'
"Dcscribe that briefly" replied 4
Secretary.
~ ~ have had really nothing to
." with it--of course, have read the stf
20 ute several times. Ii is this-the ocC
" pants after staying a number of yea
on the land and complying with certa
conditions as TO cultivation, buildiI
=. trce.p planting, etc, and paying a We
~ small commutatiOn, may then take
~, lcase for 900 years. ] believe there
: no rental whatsoever, practically 10
years. title with certain restrictions
aas TO alienation-that is point which
" would have to look up in the statr
aqe book TO refresh my memory.
"Then there is the freehold agr
ts meDt. Well, that is scheme wh'
Nv the land is put up at auction and tn
w sold TO the highest bidder, the purch
'o' or, however, must have all the quail
cations of hOmesteader and is
pected TO pay not only the price of
ny nt auction in that way, but be subj
to all the restrictions and conditions
:, regard to residence thereon, tree pla
iI ing, cultivation, nonalienation, etc,
'uS number Of yoars--three or five, VIII
hn- IN xuht ah A. m