Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-24

TENS of demonstrating encouraged by
different plantations. He then told
of the McBryde Plantations system
On Kauai, and of the Wood Valley
settlement type, which cooperates
with the Hawaiian Agricultural Com
pany, of which Mr. Ogg is manager.
Irwin thought the Pahala, or Wood
Valley system would prove satisfac-
tory on this island. While they
should have more than 10 or Is acres
OF land. The Pahala plan is lots OF
% to IS acres per family Irwin said
most of them would need financial
assistance. and thought the contracts
with the mills should provide for
loans or, advances that would help
them through.
The Secretary stated that the most
favorable contract he had yet seen
here was that of Manager Ogg with
the Wood Valley people, This, said
to be still in the experimental stage,
gives the growers 81 per ton for their
cane, the mill to cut the crop and
flume the water to the land. He said
Manager ~Ogg had figured it would
make, on the contract, GIG per cent,
on it's present investment of $4,000
600. This profit is paper as yet, how
ever. The system in operation, may
prove unsuccessful financially.
Irwin thought this was as good as
the homesteaders could expect from
any sugar mill. He thought, in ans
Wer to the direct question from Mr..
Fisher, that Under this system home
stealing would prove successful.
Under questioning by Attorney o.
son, Irwin SAID that in an interview
with Gov. Frear some time in August
the executive had stated that the
homesteaders involved in the Hender-
son case would probably be given a
chance to qualify for title to their
lands
Attorney Ashford asked him about
the report that strip of lots in the
Hakalau district had been withheld
from the hOmesteaders because of the
fear that competitive stores to the
plantation stores would be opened.
He said, after some thought and ad-
ditiOnal questions, that he had read
the story in the Honolulu Star-Bulle-
tin.
Fisher asked if anyone in the audi
ence was responsible for the circula-
ton of this story. In response, the
editor of a Portuguese newspaper,
Aug de Costa of the A .Setta, arose
and said if the Secretary would give
him a few minutes he believed he
could bring in the person desired.
Mr.. Fisher excused him to attend to
the errand, and in the meantime, Mr..
Curtis, who had come in, was called
10 the witness chair. He had a type
written narrative setting forth his
views, and the Secretary proceeded
10 read this.
Mr. Fisher had not read far before
he came to a general charge of con-
certed attempts on the part of the
plantations to throttle the home !
steaderS. He paused, and called for
definite information and facts, in
clUUing incidents.
Curtis, after urging, finally launch
c. into lengthy story of his diff
culties in attempting to finance his
own Sane growing project. 1t devel-
Oped, according to his story, that Ow-
ing to personal hostility between
himself and Manager John Watt, of
the Olaa Plantation, Robert W.
Single had declined to aid him and
he was compelled to give it up tenn
pOrarily.
He admitted, however, that his was
not All instance that could be called
typical of plantation opposition.
The Fisher party starts by rail to-
morrow morning on it's journey down .