Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-05-22
CAL. WANTS
GOOD INSPECTION


To have twisted the meaning of a let
ter sent here by Mr.. Starrett out Of
all scmblance to his own intention. II
regarded as particularly misleading.
This letter referred to the number OF
infected sweet potatoes Mr.. Starrett
had found In a shipment Although
the newspaper report attempted tn
show that the shipment was rejected
In spite of the fact that very few in
fected specimens were found. this Is
not at all Mt. Starrctts attitude. He
returns to the Islands thoroughly In
sympathy with California's attitude
and satisfied that it's up to Hawaii ia
cooperate to the fullest extent.
california feels little sore over
the situation, and I don't blame them"
said Mr. Starrctt, when asked by tho
Blu letin for the facts Of matter
that California thinks has been eXag-
gerated here
The moth that infeCts the sweet po-
tatoes here Is not in California and
they are justified in using every en-
deavor to keep 1t out. Now, one OF
their officials told me that II isn't sur
prising the infected potatoes We're not
noticed here He said that he had
read in Il bulletin OF the Board of
Agriculture and Forestry here how tho
pest laid It's eggs In the stem of the
potato and from this the maggot work
ed down. so by nipping off the stem
! end of the potato he saw the evidence
of infection. Otherwise II wouldn't
have been noticed. Under these cir
Cumstances the California people can't
| be blamed for refusing the shipment
Of potatoes.
The Situation.
Nov, the situation Is this Cali
fornia doesn't want TO have to con-
denim shipments and order them sent
| back here. At the same time, Cali
fornla needs protection, and needs Ha-
wallis cooperation. What should be
done is to have the products inspected
carefully before they leave Hawaii"
Mr.. Starrett's department Is already
loaded with work. and as such care
! ful inspection ms Is suggested would
require two or three men, no way for
such work has been provided. How
ever, he himself points out II way, and
one that California Is likely to point
out, too, unless something is done.
California has appropriated $500
for the fruit-fy campaign and to keep
pests In general out of California" he
says. up there on the Coast they
feel that instead of spending all of
this money on lighting the fruit fly,
We ought to spend some of It on in
spection so that. shipments sent from
here won't have to be returned.
Their attitude Is that when we our
selves bar the shipment of fruit from
one island to another, as ! understand
Is now being done from Kauai to Oahu
we should not expect California Ia
take chances on infection. And in this
they are right"
Mr.. Starrett believes there Is danger
that unless some provision Is made
here for inspection, spending possibly
part of this $500 for II. California
may Withdraw the appropriation alto.
gether
THE chief deputy quarantine inspec.
tor, Fred Maskew. IL very anxious foi
Hawaii to get in and help" said Mr.
Starrett, "and certainly hope that
there will be no more newspaper re.
ports that California Is discriminating
against us down here"
The marketing superintendent re.
turns with considerable onion seet
with which to pave the way for Ha,
wallis new, crop, although he did MOI
get all he wanted. He found MANI
people interested In Hawaii land anx,
ious to come here. Starrett himself
comes back looking exceptionally well