Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-05
LEASES At
Low FIGURE IS
BOARD POLICY
Land Comf1ission Makes Offer
to Pioneer Miii, Which Lat
ter Is Now Considering
CANE TRACT At S5 AND
PASTURE AT IS CENTS
Changed Conditions in Sugar
industry Held Responsible
for New System

a 81 ~
Agreeing on 4 new policy. conceiv
ed to be necessary under the changed
conditions OF the sugar industry ol
the islands. a new policy which means
short agricultural leases on very rea
sonable terms the land commission
met this morning at a special session
to consider the application of Pioneer
Mill sCompanysfor 100 acres of pas.
ture and cane land at Wahikuli, in the
district of Lahaina, Maui
The meeting concluded with pro
POSITION made to the company tc
lease it the land for a term Of five
years, SIS an acre to be paid annually
for the cane acreage, 25 cents for the
pasture land. In the application FOL
the lease the company agreed to pay
81 for the cane land, 25 cents for the
other property included in the area
J. r. Hackfeld was present at the
meeting in the interests OF the appli
cation.
In discussing the changed condition
of the sugar industry here, and the
influence 1t should have on the com
mission in leasing government agri
cultural land, chairman A. w. Car.
ter stated that no lease should be
made for term in excess of five
years, and that estimates on the rem.
tai value OF land, made two or three
years ago, should not be binding or
the commission now in making new
agreements with iessees.
AS an instance, the case OF the land
now offered for lease at Wahikuli was
cited. A eouhle Of years ago the
commission, it was stated, agreed that
this property should bring an annual
rental of SO an acre. But now, in
view of the change in the tariff and
the low price of sugar, 1t would be
unjust to insist upon such a fee being
paid for it, said the commissioners.
Mr. Hackfel7 states that he con
siueTed 81 an acre d very fair price
all things considered. for the land
and Commissioners r. H. Trent seem
ed somewhat Inclined to his view
Frank Andrade, also a commissioner
sought to compromise with an offer
to lease the cane land at $4.50, the
pasture land at 25 cents. His motion
was withdrawn, the commissioners
holding out for S.. Mr.. Hackfeld
stated that he would bring the propo
sition as made by the commission be-
for the directors fof the company.
The vote to offer the land for lease
policy of short leases at reasonable
rates, the commissioners were in
agreement. The arguments were only
on what should be taken as a rea.
sonable and fair rate on this land.
Il believe with Mr.. Trent" said
Chairman Carter, "that in fixing the
value of the land we should not be
bound by decisions made some time
ago. The changes since then In the
sugar industry affect agricultural land
values greatly. No lease should be
made for period longer than five
years .- .:...z.-..-@-
At the meeting Of the commission
yesterday afternoon it was decided
tp lease to the Hawaiian Canneries
Company about 10 acres at Kapaa
Mr.. Trent opposed the least, on the
ground that it was waterfront lan6
and should not be turned over to one
company alone.
He intimated that Executive pres
sure" was being brought to secure
the lease. The land is leased at al
upset price of 500 an acre.
A letter was received from the gov
ernor concerning it, and it was tc
- Riol1 -
when speaking of executive pres
sure" He stated that the governor
had summoned him to the executive of.
flee and accused him of holding uI
the lease for personal reasons, which
he denied. He said his objection tC
the lease was that it. gave too much
valuable waterfront land to one con.
cern. Following is the governors let
ter:
Honolulu, T. H., Feb. 26, 1914.
Jacob Brown, Secretary Board oi
Land Commissioners, Honolulu:
Dear Sir:-After close inquiry and
investigation. am convinced that the
Hawaiian Canneries Company should
be granted the full acreage at Kapaa
Kauai, that they have applied for, to
wit, about 19 acres. l therefore sug
sest that you take action at once on
this basis, that this enterprise may
promptly be established and the home
steaders have a market for the pro-
Guce they contemplate raising, par
ticularly pineapples. Respectfully,
Il. E. PINKHAM,
Governor of Hawaii