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

into detail, asking Mr. Swanzy If &c.
! 600 acres aof cane lands now govern
kment-owned were to be broken up
| into small holdings, would this be a
good thing for the islands. -.
| Mr. Swanzy pointed out that the
small holdings would be without wa
ter, and it would be question wheth-
Ter the small holder could get water
from surrounding plantations. Mr..
SWanzy expressed an opinion that the
scheme would be desirable If practi-
cable, but doubted its practicability
TIE only advantage he could see
would be almost entirely one of popu-
| lation.
Swanzy said 1t would not be prac-
teal scheme, but il would of course
bring in $500 more people. It would
cost them far more to raise the same
amount as now raised on the same
land The only advantage would be
the increased population, he admitted.
Would 1T be a public advantage
Fisher asked, ..as compared to. the.
| present system p
Swanzy rather backed away from a
direct answer. asking for a more def
Mite statement OF the problem. He
said he did not think the white man
would work the cane land. himself
Fisher called on the Governor.
again "Will the white man work the
cane himself?" he asked.
The Governor said they likely
would prefer to raise other crops If
they weres compelled to do their own
work Swanzy further explained the
workings of the leasing system.
Fisher then said that apparently it
means that the laborer contracts
merely to cultivate the crop, to be
paid according to the amount of cane
grown on the tract assigned to him.
Swanzy, asked if he could see any
economic advantage in cultivation by
small owner under demonstrating sys-
tenn, answered in the negative, but,
added that certain amount of home
Stealing is good for the country.
He said he did not think the small
owner would be deferred by the fact
that he must sell his product to the
refinery owned by the big neighbof-
ting plantation He stontly declared
the grower could get from the re-
finer what it is worth to the refiner
II it isssof good quality he can get
good prices, of course.
Suppose the refiner says we must
nave profit, who is to decide what
is the proper price to pay the grow
err. itl a.ssst .%s,.s
l'T don't know, was Swanzys re-
ply. He added that he thought the
grower could get a contract that
would suit him for 90 wears ahead,
providing for market fluctuations and
grades of cane.
He can get a price which fluctu-
ates in accordance with the fluctua
tons of the New York market
do you think the big planter or
refiner would make such contract?"
Yes ..se-1
He said he knew such contracts
had been made, but couldn't name
any such off hand, ~
Fisher expressed desire to learn
of all Instances possible where small
owners are cultivating sugar crops.
Secretary Fisher said he hoped
this session would give a general
idea of the line of investigation he
desires to make, and the kind of
questions he will ask He asked
Governor Frear and Kuhio for fur
Their suggestions The Governor said
he had none at the moment. The
Delegate replied that he desired to-
submit the names of a number of
persons whom he would like to have
summoned to testify, and was re-
qtles5ed to hand the names to Secre.
tary Fisher at the earliest possible
.nofaent.
Wants Statistics on Small Farming.
Fisher placed emphasis on his de-
sire to obtain statistics showing the
number of small land owner, or home
steaders in the Islands, the average,
the maximum and minimum aereages
farmed by these, the general meth
DDS, and the success of the differ
ent systems employed, in handling
sugar cane, pineapple and other
crops. The Governor said that when
he took office he found a record of
about 1900 homesteads. He said he
had proceeded to gather figures of
all homesteads in the Territory, and
that he now has a tabulation that is
fairly complete. He was asked to-
furnish the statistics Fisher asks,
from the figures he has on hand con.
eerning the demonstrating.
The session then ad iouTned