The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-09-17

to the homesteading proposition on this
account.
Favors Wide Discretion.
"'You advocate considerable dis
erection on the part of the executive on
account of the diversified conditions
and different nationalities3'i suggest.
ed the Secretary.
"That is my opinion STILL" replied
Mr.. Carter. 81 think a very large dis.
erection should be vested in him.
Plantation Opposition.
Mr.. Carter went on to say that Mr..
Newell was here investigating water
and other conditions before the report
was made by the board. Mr. Newell
particularly recommended the home
stealing of the uncultivated lands
inst. He stated that the best govern
ment land under cultivation is cane
land. He had very little faith in con.
neetion with homesteading lands along
the sugar plantations. He recognized
there are a tremendous number of diff
ficulties about demonstrating and felt
then and now, that the ''insurmount-
able difficulty is the antagonism of the
sugar interests against homesteading
in this country"
1t may be natural and may be hui
man nature, commented Mr.. Carter on
making this point. The sugar estate
will make less money on cane land cul-
tivated by homesteaders than if it be
cultivated under the plantation sys-
TEN by Asiatic labor. This was due
to a system which has grown up in this
country.
-
/ believe there has been strong
feeling, and there is today, against
any modification of that SYSTEM re-
marked Mr.. Carter GA number of
years ago there was no sugar company
or manager that spoke of homestead.
ing except in a sneering manner. There
was a modification of that expression
when Mr.. Garfield came here, but /
think we are swinging back to it since
YOU have been here"
Question of Wages.
" Do you think it is going to be pos
sible for the plantations to continue
to keep down the wages3''
"The tendency is to increase
wages replied Mr.. Carter. "Wages
are better than they have been. l."
"'Unless they can keep importing
Asiatic labor they are not going to
keep the same wagesq'
"They are not paying the same
wages.'
"Then is not the plantation going to
face a condition of higher wages7 1t
seems to me it would be good business
to encourage small holdings and put on
them proper class who will become
good American citizens. 1t has also
been suggested that when the clock,
strikes on the plantation, men want to
quit, whereas if they were homestead
ers they would work the additional
half hour or hour to finish the work in
hand,'' said Mr.. Fisher.
'That would be the natural conclu-
sion," said Mr.. Carter.
eff fair contract could be made
between the small planter and mill
owner, what do you think would be
the economic advantages of such a sys-
tent" inquired Secretary Fisher.
cit would be profitable eventually,
in the long run, and l think the time
will come when it will be utilized.
The Secretary then asked some ques-
tions concerning the hours of work on
the Parker ranch. The manager. said
the men turned to at half-past six
O clock in the morning and quit about
half-past four in the afternoon. The
men who handled cattle turned out at
half-past five in the morning and came
in when they were through with their
work. The men did not stable their
horses but turned them out to Craze.
Mr.. Carter said he himself was ready
for work at half.past FIVE.
Force the Plantations.
Mr.. Carter was then asked to enter
into any statements of constructive
nature which he thought would be
helpful. Mr.. Carter said the question
of homesteading was difficult. He said
he felt, rightly or wrongly, that 1T had
been hindered more by the large inter.
ests than it has been by the natural
physical disadvantages which, as he
said, "you must admit are many He
felt change could be brought about
only from a different attitude of the
principal industries here by "bringing
every pressure to bear to make them
see that it is to their interest.
"Any Governor who tackles that
proposition has his hands full, - he
added. .'Governor Frear may have
done everything IN his power, ana
done lots of work we don't know any
thing about l believe that Governor
Frear is one of the ablest and most
honest men in this Territory and when
he was appointed Governor I thought
| we had man who would bring this
thing about.
81 still believe in the special agree
ment plan. have thought sometimes
refusal to lease any lands to the
sugar companies, those that did not
cooperate with demonstrating plans, a
refusal to allow them to use the gov
eminent wharves, might work out ad
vantageously, and / have thought II
would be well if there were filed with
| the Secretary of the Interior, reports
criticizing these hindrances, the indus
try conld not stand against such oppo
sition. I think conditions here justify
radical changes in this respect.
mtolerant Community.
''This is another thing would lil'
to say This is an intolerant commun
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