The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-04-21
ASK INQUIRY
INTO RICE
IMPORTS
Hawaii MilIers MIKE Complaints
to Department Of Agriculture
Regarding Quality Of Some Of
Produce Brought to Islands
Claim It. Damages Their Bust
ness.

lutfN A@''" HtVhudy AuNcfubcr,l
The rice imported into Hawaii from
foreign countries totaled l6,s42 1877
pounds valued at 1927 1913 for the six
months ending December 81. During
the year 1914. 6,O6eoOO pounds Of
Louisiana and Texas rice were sold in
this market. The Hawaiian production
during the same twelve month period
is estimated at 100000 pounds. Of
which about 100000 pounds was
shipped to the Pacific Coast.
Reducing this to bags the average
annual consumption of rice is about
100000 bags hawaiian, $4,000 Japa-
nese, and $4,000 Louisiana and Texas.
The estimates are that the. consump-
tion for March was 5000 bags Louis.
lana, 10000 Hawaiian and $4,000 nm
ported Japanese The average valua-
ton ON this monthly basis Indicates
that about 100000 Of rice is used in
Hawaii every month. Also on the above
estimates the annual crop of rice grown
In this Territory is worth between
100000 and 100000. IL IL an impor-
tant industry and worth saving.
The customhouse value of the Japa-
nese rice imported last year was about
81, 250,000. The mainland rice brought
in was invoieed at about $3.50 900, so
that the total rice business Of the Ter
ritory is worth in the neighborhood Of
~ 100000 annually.
Finishing Process Here.
A large proportion of the Japanese
rice is imported Gin the brown, - which
is to say, that il is in partially manu-
featured condition and has to 70
through further milling process be-
fore 1t is in condition to sell to athe
consumer. There are about dozen
establishments in Honolulu with their
full equipment Of milling machinery
engaged in finishing the brown rice,
each mill employing a considerable
number of laborers almost constantly
throughout the year.
These rice millers and tho Hawaiian
rice farmers, II is reported, have made
complaint TO the chemists Of the United
States department Of agriculture who
have in their charge the execution Of
the Pure Food Law, and have asked
for an Investigation into the character
of some of the Louisiana and Texas
rice now being shipped into this mar
ket.
1t is reported that the local represen-
tatives Of the bureau Of chemistry have
secured many samples of mainland rice
which are so heavily coated with par
afiin, glucose and talcum powder as to
be entirely unsuited for human food.
1t is also said that some of the sam
Piles are dyed with ultramarine to inn
prove their color and that other sam
Piles show treatment with sulphurous
acid fumes and chloride of lime, both
of which are powerful bleaching agents.
IL Is reported that the local Interests
who have invoked the aid of the Unit
ed States government in their behalf
for the protection Of the home milling
and rice farming industries claim that
many thousand bags Of Soathern rice
was so poor in quality as 10 be prac-
tically unsaleable al home for any 9th
CT purpose than stock feed or brewers
grain, hayo been disposed of in Hawaii
and that their interests have been Sc
riously affected thereby.
Parafined Rice Under Ban.
Parallined rico Is unsaleable under
the provisions Of the Pure Food Law
Rice which is coated with glucose and
taleum or Is colored with ultramarine,
or bleaehed with chlorine, must, under
the provisions of the same law be in
containers that distinctly state that
fact on the outside of the package. The
local rice producers claim that paraf
fined or otherwise adoped rice is be.
ing shipped into Hawaii in unmarked
bags and that II is being used to adul-
terate both the imported Japanese and
home grown product as il is much
cheaper than either Of those in price.
IL Is reported that as result Of the
Investigations now in progress proseeu-
tons may follow.