Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-08
FEBRUARY 8, 1916.
THEIR GRIEVANCE.

Honolulu merchants and retailers in general
aside from those connected with the big su,
gar agencies-are surprised and angered to
find that the Sugar Factors and the American
Hawaiian steamship company have calmly con
Guided avery important shipping deal without
taking into their confidence the independent
importers of the territory
Their point seems to be wel-taken that the
big sugar men of Hawaii and the steamship
company should have let the merchants know
that the New York Hawaii service was to be
abandoned, even if only temporarily. As one
merchant points out, it isn't the money in
volved, since in the long run the consumer IS
going to pay the increase between the freight
charge bk railroad and the freight charge by
water, but ii is the secrecy with which the deal
was completed and the fact that local retail
interests weren't consulted on matter vital
10 the import trade of the entire territory
1t is also pointed ont that this import trade
helped TO make possible a favorable two year
contract rate entered into by the sugar men
and the American Hawaiian Company. The
large import business done by local merchants,
and which they were glad to assure to the
All. concern, was material factor in getting
tract for Hawaii's sugar.
What the local merchants think, with appar-
ent reason, has not been observed is "reci-
procityp between the big sugar interests and
the smaller but much more numerous mercan
tile interests They feel that the matter should
have been taken up with the Chamber of Com
merce, and the merchants asked, How is this
Reorganization of cargo service going to affect
y0ui How is it going to affect Hawaii's inn
port tradel What can we do to help you if it
IS going to disorganize your freightsi'
Big prospective war profits, it is admitted,
Eas the controlling factor in the decision of the
Amerieah. Hawaiian Company to put its main
feet into the Atlantic trade. This action Of the.
Steamship company is in marked contrast with
that of the Matson Navigation Company, which.
has refused Gathering offers to put its steamers
INTO the war trade. AT one time the Lurline
could have made an immense profit by going
% another run, handling largely war material.
The company not only stood by its Hawaii bnsi-
ness, bufits raise in freight rates is considered
reasonable That policy in the long run is the
Best policy If the Americas Hawaiian COM
ba1y had as close interest in Hawaii as has the
Iatson company, it too would recognize this
policy as the best.
Consultation between the sugar men, the
american Hawaiian company and the local re-
|ailers and other importers would have hurt
10 one and would have been precisely the step
|o make the little fellow feel that the big
fellow an Hawaii held at heart the interests
Of ALL His impossible to believe that such con-
sultation and cooperation, if frankly but dis
creetly handled, could have imperilled the ul-.
Innate success of the deal.
Reciprocity in business between all the in.
terests IN Hawaii is the surest way possible Of
guaranteeing united front when the prosper
ity Of the territory is menaced from the outside.
And reciprocity cannot be maintained unless
both sides all sides carry it out in practise.