The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-03-13
new QUARANTINE
TO HELP HAWAII
Fruit Exporters Have Nothing to
Lose and All to Gain
~ in Changes.

Editor Advertiser.--ln view Of the
fact that you published lengthy ar.
ticle in your paper on February 2s,
concerning the uneasiness felt by the
territorial board Of agriculture and
forestry and others interested in the
agricultural welfare Of Hawaii, as
result Of the reported activity Of Mr..
Frederick Maskew, chief quarantine
officer at San Francisco, you may be
willing to grant me an opportunity TO
explain the actual situation.
/ II win be remembered that on Sep.
TENDER IS, 1912, the secretary Of the
United States department OF. agricul-
ture, signed the Notice Of Quarantine
No. 2, Of the federal horticultural
board, which prohibited entry to the
mainland Of all Hawaiian fruits and
vegetables then known to breed the
Mediterranean fruit-ly. This quaran-
tine was Published in your paper, at
| federal expense, at that time. M
Former Restrictions.
Previous to this time the quarantine
oficialssof the California Horticultural
commission had permitted the entry Of
| Hawaiian grown bananas and pineap-
I, pies, provided they had been inspected
by competent man in Honolulu, and
this work Of inspection was placed In
the hands Of your then existing mar.
keting division. When the federal de-
partment Of agriculture took up its in
Il Al A.. II
in these Islands and relieved the ter
ritorial board Of the clean culture cam
paign against the fruit-fy, it also, at
the request of the local authorities, as
sumed the responsibility for the proper
inspection Of bananas and pineapples.
The inspection of pineappIes was
soon discontinued because Of made
quate conditions. The banana inspec-
ton, however, was made most rigid,
and though continued under federal
control was paid for by the banana
growers and shippers. While this Of
fce found that It could carry on the
inspection work fifty per cent cheaper
than the marketing division, still the
cost to the banana growers and ship
pers was quite heavy.
"a on Firiner Basis.
Because hthe officials of the federal
horticultural board feel that the cost
Of the inspections should not fall upon
the Hawaiian banana growers and be-
cause IL wishes to successfully fore
stall any attempt on the part Of main
land fruit growers to bring about an
absolute exclusion from the mainland
Of fresh pineapples, they have deemed
IL best TO revise the old quarantine SO
that 1t will place the Hawaiian fruit
interests upon the frmest basis pos
sible ~ s
The agricultural interests Of Hawaii
have absolutely nothing to lose and
everything TO gain by the proposed
quarantinegl Mo person who Is in
formed regarding the widespread hay-
oe caused, got ,oply5 here, but in every
land where the Mediterranean fruit
fly and the melon ny exists, can ques-
ton the necessity for some quarantine
to protect the mainland Seates from
these two very dangerous pests.
The banana growers will welcome the
proposed new quarantine measures, as
II places the banana industry Of these
Islands once for all, upon hrm basis,
and relieves the growers from heavy
yearly tax for inspection. The ship
pers of fresh pineapples also have ev-l
erything to gain, and absolutely moth
ing to lose. 8E
No Fumigation.
At the present time all fresh pine
apples shipped to San Francisco are
subjected to a heavy, and often ruin
Gus, fumigation. The proposed quaran,
tine provides for such a thorough in
| spection Of export pines that the writ
] er has every reason to believe that his
investigational work together with
this inspection will soon bring about
the discontinuance Of fumigation at
1 the port of entry. The pineapple
shippers, therefore, win be able TO
make better profit without additional
cost TO themselves.
Safe In Mariatt's Hands.
Mr.. CsL Marlatt, chairman Of the
federal horticultural board, has been
in Hawaii and is thoroughly familiar
with existing conditions. His wide
experience in federal quarantine work
and his dealings with many foreign
countries, are such that he is thorough
ly capable Of viewing and acting I'M
partially upon the Hawaiian situation.
While il may be well for the Territory
| to have a representative at the meet
ing of the federal horticultural board
on March 10, it is entirely unnecessary.
With Mr. Albert Warehouse, acting
president and executive officer Of the
territorial board of agriculture and
forestry, now feeling that as long
as Mr.. Marlatt is in charge Of affairs
at Washington, Hawaii will not suffer
any injustice, there is no cause for
further agitation.
| Yours very truly, s,
T.. A, BACK,
In Charge Of Mediterranean Fruit-Fiy
Investigations.