The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-12-04
BANANA SHIPPERS
!. WILL SUFFER b|G
FINANCIAL Loss
Communicating Of Remaining
Watson Steamers Practically
Precludes Forwarding Of Fruit

II was estimated yesterday that the
banana growers OF the Islands would
suffer financial loss Of about $4,000
for the first month during which the
four Matson steamers will be used by
the government for service in the Pa.
cifc. Should they be kept in the gov
eminent service for a longer period
of time, the loss will naturally be cor
resnondingly greater.
Few, IL any, bananas will be shipped
from tne Islands during the next month,
for Castle q Cooke, local Matson agents,
informed all shippers saturday that no
more could be handled until further
notice. Oceanic steamers have space
for but few bananas, for they are gen.
orally filed to capacity with through
cargo from the Antipodes. .a
Many Bananas shipped
As rule about twenty thousand
punches have been shipped monthly to
the Coast on Matson steamers which
have in the past furnished the only
means Of transportation for them.
When one shipper was asked yesterday
whether or not bananas could safely
be shipped to San Francisco on the
faster sailing vessels which are now
in the Matson service, he frankly stat
ed that such could not even be eonsid-
cred, for the seven days required for
steamer passage was about the maxi.
mum of time in getting such perishable
fruit as bananas to the mainland mar.
ket in good condition.
Other than bananas, pineapples are
the only Island perishable fruit ship
ped to the mainland, but little If any
loss will be suffered in these, as all of
the fruit that otherwise would be ships
ped, can be handled by the canneries.
Fruit men stated yesterday that q
great shortage in California fruit would
be experienced by Island folk, for with
the larger Matson steamers removed
from the run, il is estimated that only
about one. fourth Of the normal impor-
tation is being received.
May Regulate Price ..... ..
| As in the case of the Island fruit,
other than apples, no California fruit
can be shipped here on the ships of the
used, il is thought, in the stead of
other mainland fresh fruits, for these
| are hardly considered as perishable and
/
twenty or twenty-five days and even
longer if necessary. 1t is also felt that
unless some action is taken by the food
commission to regulate the prices of
imported ice house goods, they will
aviate sky high, as there will not be
enough to supply the demand, and only
the weather. people will be in a posi-
tion to buy, This win probably be
taken up with members of the commits
sion today.
Although butter and eggs win prob
ably be given the preference in spar =,
the shortage of ships should stimulate
the sale and use of Island poultry.
Several Chinese are preparing TO 60
into the chicken business on a large
scale, anticipating a shortage in ice
| house space for many months to come.
1t is said that they are going into the
| business on a more extensive scale than
ever before attempted here and it is
also said that contracts have been sign.
ed to supply the larger markets for the
next year or two. ..', .g..}
This probably will have salutary
effect on the local market, for if these
contracts are for the length of time
| which has been rumored, the poultry
industry should be well established by
the time the larger Matson ships or
others of equal or greater ice house
capacity, are returned to the Hawaii.
Coast run.
May Use Foreign Ships
Many local firms feel confident that
| permits will be issued by the Coast
representative of the Federal Shipping
Board to foreign transpacific vessels to
carry freight between the Islands and
the mainland However, owners of
both Dutch and japanese liners seem
disihclined to accept these permits, for
should they have to accept the shorter
haul to Hawaii, they would be de,
Priyed of greater profits which natur.
ally accrue from the longer.
Definite word as to. the decision OF
these companies is expected to reach
Honolulu by cable, possibly today.