Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-10-02
Wants to Know if Land Board
Could Be Given Power
of Control

Governor Frear's statement at the
Fisher hearing yesterday, which. on
account of space limitations, could not
be printed in yesterdays issue, II
contains much of interest on Hawai-
ian demonstrating conditions. The
statement as it begins below deals
with the publicity given demonstrating
operations here, and Secretary Fisher
is asking about the administration :;
methods in dealing with HOMESTEAD
appicants.)
i Governor: Well l might explain
that right here. | gave general d.
rections in March, 1911 that when
lauds were cut up for homestead pur-
roses the first tier or two along the
government road should be made
small and sold as town lots, instead
of as homestead lots. The Land Com
/ missioner, on April l. 1911, wrote to
that effect to the Territorial Surveyor
tten the Surveyor sent copies of that
letter to all of his field parties, with
directions to carry out the instruc-
tons. A party was sent in April to
| survey the lands at Hakalau In this
particular case, he did not subdivide
| the lands, and | am informed by the
Surveyor that the reason for that was
| that the applicants for those lands,
| (tbere was no written, application
were the applicants for the land
| above. So the Land Commissioner
and the Surveyor thought they would
rot survey them Immediately. Then
nothing further was done until writ
| ten application was filed in February
of this year. That was Immediately
| replied to and correspondence was
entered into both by the Land Com
missioner and myself as to the size of
lots into which the reservations were
TO be sub-divided. 1t was decided that
the lots should have frontage of Is
feet and a depth of 400 feet. All
these directions were given to the
Surveyor to .sub-divided the lands.
These people"w informed all along
to that effect.
Fisher: The principal applicants
were informed?
Governor: Yes.
Wants Publicity.
Fisher: You issue a general order
and that order has gone to the Officers
and not gone to the public, except as
they find it out incidently. You make
a reservation like this on the govern
nlent road. Such particular individuals
who are active in the matter make in
Griries, or applications, and are IN
formed Of the facts, but the rest of
the public does not know anything
about it. / think it would be better
to post public notice somewhere
where everybody could see it, and see
just what is being done.
Governor: We do advertise it,
Fisher: l have not seen any evil
dence of it.
Governor: The point is this. We
take up piece of land and decide to
do something with it. We give it as
news to the Press. Then when the
lets are surveyed, notice of 60 days
is put in the papers notifying people
that it will be opened for homestead
ing and sold at public auction on such
end such a date.
Fisher That advertisement would
hot be made until after the survey
were made; not until two or three peo-
rle tell you what they want You have
no evidence as to whose neal views
you are getting as to the size of lots,
etc. This seems to me very informal
sort of way. Is there not public
Building or post Office, or something
where a notice could be published
where everybody could see thai this
land had been reserved. for residence
purposes and applications therefor
would be received?
Governor: Yes.
Fisher: | get the impression that
there is little feeling on the part OF
the public that they are not quite taken
irtc the confidence OF the Executive !
aa they should be,-that they don't
quite get fair show. There may not
be any justification for it, in fact That
feeling is quite natural, however, I'M
less there is a gre -er degree Of pub !
liCity given to lat is being done by
the Executive What is your impress |
sion, is ther- some such feeling?
Governor: | think there is some |
such feeling.
Ashford: That refers to the reeser- !
vations at Haka;au, does it not?
Governor: Yes.
Ashford: These things were not |
done until you had received a PAM
phlet containing the specific charges !
oil the Delegate, were they? !
Governor: You mean with regard !
to the reservation at Hakalau?
Ashford: Yes
HakaIau Reservation.
Governor: The reservation was ;
made with regard to cutting up the
tract Immediately. which was some 6. :
: or 9 months before the Complaint /
vas filed; and then the subdivision ,
did not occur by reason of the COM
paint. but by reason OF tie applica-
tor for these lands. The applications
for these lands, might have been due
to the complaint.
Ashford: You received the COM
pla int and then sub-divided them; is
that not the way?
Governor: The application came