The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-12-25
RODRRlEO. MArHEspK EDITOR
The Free Port Idea

NHKODhH1 refusing even TO take up the ques-
= ton Tor serious discussion when it was pre-
scented some ten years ago and when il has been
urged at intervals ever since by few with imagi-
nation enough TO visualize the possibilities, Ho.
noluu has lost the opportunity it had to be lead
er in what Is now almost national demand for
the establishment of ia system Of Gree ports ;"
When the proposal was originally made in Homo
lulu by Assistant Secretary of State LOOMS, all
that the average big business man in Honolulu
could fasten in the matter was the word "free"
a tabued word which brought up visions of free
sugar and territorial disaster. Hence the sugges-
ton that Honolulu grasp the great opportunity
that appeared to be before it, of having this port
made the pioneer free port Of the United States,
was refused even hearing.
Later from time TO time, others again advanced
the free port idea and urged that ii be at least
seriously considered. Again it was refused hear
ing, the practical" men Of the chamber OF com
merce and Of the administration having no time for
theorists. ~. r., e.. ~. =.
Today, along both coast lines OF the mainland
there is an active demand for the establishment of
free ports, one or two on each coast. The hoary
noth-eaten argument that something should not
be done because It is not American has been dis
earded along with number of other equally flu
tile and pifhing ideas and arguments. The secre-
tary of commerce has embodied in his latest report
10 congress number OF arguments IN favor OF the
free port plan and urges legislation to make
such trading points possible. The establishment
OF free ports at strategic points our coast says
Secretary Redheld. would be potent factor in
maintaining and extending our foreign trade
Honolulu is "a strategic point" where the ship
ping Of, four continents has its junction. Steam
ers plying. to and from North American, South
American, Australian and Asian ports meet here
and here only. Here. through the possible enlarg-
ing of our harbor and the installation of labor
saving methods of handling freights, there could
be developed a great trading center, where the
products of score of nations could be exchanged
Honolulu win never be manufacturing point any
more than Curacao, the famous "free port Of the
Caribbean be manufacturing point, but it
can be place where cargoes may be broken and
stored for reshipment Australian steamers bring
ing bunker coal might find return cargoes here OF
machinery and other American products brought
by vessels Orient-bound,. or Chinese or Japanese.
products brought by vessels bound for American.
ports. Nitrate steamers could load return cargoes
for South America. Australian products could be
transshipped here for destinations east and west
There are the greatest possibilities here for a
free port especially when the postwar lines of
traffic resume and the shipping of two oceans
pours through the Panama gap, with much Of it
making Honolulu as coalng and supply point
To bring such about, however, the business men
OF Honolulu must bestir themselves San Fran
cisco is after the privilege of becoming the Stree
port" for the Pacific. San Pedro and San Diego
are being heard from What we might have had
years ago may now slip from our fingers through
our sheer inertia regarding new idea.