Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-10
ANNUAL Report
Governments
~ MADEPtBLD


responsibility for which it is attempt
ed to shift on to legislation. The Ter
ritory has felt the depression in the
prices of sugar and such depression
strikes a practically two-crop country
severely. Privately. it Is admitted
that the responsibility lies in the
marked overproduetion in the worlds
sugar supply. in which Hawaii has had
its full part. f.. .-:;.- ..-.r,...
While Hawaii has some moderate
relief in coffee, rice, ETC., its second
airy product Is canned .pineapples,
which industry has had such sudden
and abnormal growth that it has this
season, 1914, outstripped the means be
caring for the, field product, and where
unprotected, by contract the grower IS
helpless as to price and market. The
increase of the 1914 pack raise the
question whether the market is not SO
oyersupplied that considerable time
for adjustment will be required.
The fundamental law of supply aud
demand seems to have struck the Ter
ritory Of Hawaii forcibly enough to
cause its bankers and directors of
business and public opinion to place
more value on conservatism, especial
ly where a small community is direct.
ly amenable 10 their influence. Id.
At this writing the European war
has caused recent violent reaction in
prices Of sugar. and on the New York
basis Hawaii, has experienced this year
"a range from a minimum delivered
In New York of $3.50 per short ton
to $1,000 maximum. ID
The fact remains that sugar COM
prising 79S1 per cent of Hawaii's exs
ports and canned pineapples 11.98 per.
cent, q total of 91.79 per cent. are In
an. uncertain condition, hence there is,
corresponding unrest and concern
The situation is not without some.
compensatioAs. = There's is apparent
greater voluntary efficiency on the,
part of labor and; greater economic
prudence In the management of our
agricultural enterprises The time al
lowed between the reduction in the
tariff and the date of free sugar is too
short to- test possible reductions in
costs of sugar in Hawaii, for cane is
not here. an annual crop. but, plant
and rattoon combined. may be consid-
cred a 80 to 36 months crop The
prospect of being able 4 to compete
with free Cuban sugar is not fattering..
particularly as Hawaii is transporta=s
ton handicapped S. to Sc per ton in
reaching markets. This subject had
best be presented at a later date, AL
though OF vital Importance to the Ha-
iwaiian Islands. : .. ..$
I Beginning in February some distress
appeared from lack Of employment, ac-
ltnal and self-imposed, but through pri-.
waite and government efforts this has
largely disappeared. 1t is fortunate
that the government can almost daily
reach the labor market. No govern
ment assisted immigration has taken
place during the past year, except a
small trial shipment of Poles. Quite
a large number of permanently inca.
jpacitated assisted European immi-
grants and their dependents have, at
their own request, been repatriated at
government expense, Privately assist,
ed Filipino immigration has continued
In moderate numbers, the net increase
being 1918 persons. i.
Skilled and unskilled labor lacked
employment in some degree. but to
what extent was hardly ascertainable,
for the operations of the United States
army and navy in their construction
work now largely affect that class Of
labor ss,siss
Acute distress Is probably. less, and
less noticeable here than In mainland
Communities. for the Territory Is rela-
lively small, climate favorable. and
means OF relief more easily ascertain.