Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-07


I Mr.. Fisher then returned to the land
question stating that he had been told
that artificial protection afforded sug-
lar had resulted IN some lands not
lest adapted for sugar raising being
used for cane MIR. SwanZy sand that
undoubtedly the price Of sugar partly
due tosthe tariff made 1t possible for
some lands to be cultivated for, cane
that would not otherwise be thus util-
tized. -
He admitted that tarif probably en-
ccuraged small sugar raisers. No sug-
ar is raised here, he declared, wltnout
great expenditure in irrigation, fertil-
lizer and culture.
! Lands vary from so tons to 20 tons
per acre, he testified. The amount OF
labor does not increase in proportion
to increase In yield. There are no n
rigated sugar lands of much value.
Tnirrigated land might produce 40 to
so tons per acre, he finally admitted.
It would vary from 20 to fifty tons per
acre.
I He said he couldn't state exactly
! difference in amount of labor required
Tor best and for poorest.
ITO the comparative cost on poorest
lnon-irrigated as much as one,haif the
cost of best non-irrigated lands?'
Swanzy said he was not In position
To answer definitely but promised to
produce statistics that might answer
question.
Suppose that Bristow's bin had
passed Congress and become Law, how
would it affect sugar lands here
Swanzy said he thought the major
ity of plantations would continue rails
ing cane.
/ would cotton cane land continue to
give profit?"
sThat is a little doubtful" SWanzy
admitted. He said most of the land
taken up for pineapple raising is quite
dry. that much of 1t is too dry for
sugar cane.
I. He s.declined to say whether those
lends that would be driven out OF slg-
ar industry by reduction of sugar tar
III might probably take up pineapple
raising.
Fisher read a letter from homestead
or who stated he was. the only white
hcrhesfeader doing his own work OF
the land. He stated that he was one
OF 40-the others, lie SAID hired labor.
and depended on large plantations TO
furnish labor and Eny the cane.
Swanzy sid he knew of others on
Waiakea doing their own work. He
then explained the general system of
handling crops on the honlesteads
showing how the larger plantations
aid the smaller ones. He said about
ell the tenant does is to care for crop
for 2 years. The planting and harvest
ing is handled by the larger plalta-
tons, he stated.
He said the Portuguese are very
poor community workers. Where land
lis assigned to Portuguese by planta-
lions the tracts are usually about 10
acres each, averaging crops OF 40 tons
per acre.
Fisher came right back to the main
point of the inquiry. after this long
ferries of detailed questioning, by stat
ing that one Of the charges raised is
that individuals cannot get .arge
enough tracts of land to cultivate, to
make fair living
Mr.. Swanzy was asked If the small
contract system, generally applied to
the islands. would be beneficial. MIR
Swanzy said that already the great
bulk, perhaps so per cent. OF the cane
il now raised that way, and that the
Japa neee do mott of It. He said It Is
a sincere community system and not
a gang system, and that the workers
lad real interest in their production.
He was asked then if there were
afiv places on the island where men
raise the cane themselves on a small
scale. AS d rule. the homesteader
does not raise the cane himself, but
arranges to have Japanese or sore
other lAbor raise The rane for him
Mr.. Swafzy suggested that Secreta-
nv Fisher formulate a list. of ques-I
lions on the conditions of sugar rails
ing, and specific replies would be
made to them Secretary Fisher an
swered that he will be glad to do so
a little later. and that he desires to
ask the Introductory questions man
to man. and secure all the knowledge
possible as to small cane holdings.
Mr.. Swanzy suggested that at Lau-
pahoehoe there was government land
held in small parcels. He told of the
various attempts to homestead and
cultivate lands in this district. Some
pieces of land are idle, he said.
How far do you think it would be
q benefit to have these lands cut up
and pass into ownership of whites.
who leased the. lands to workers 2"
Fisher inquired Swanzy said he
thought it would be a great benefit
Gov. Frear was asked about how
much land fit to be cultivated is In
the islands.
about 5000 in cane and no one
knows how many otherwise; say
about 100000 acres, including cane
lands, he said. 80 z
The. Governor said some homestead
ers can live on less than others. He
said some can live on ten or fifteen
acres and others need 40 or so acres.
He told of one american who told him
a few days ago that intensive farm
ing is needed here, and that only a
few acres is needed per man.
Z