Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-16
Island Press DevoteS Editorials
to Various Features OF
threatened Shortage

.
Gov Pinhltam's proclamation calling
for the raising OF more foodstuffs in
Hawaii has aroused wide interest
throughout the islands, the Importance
of his utterances being reflected in
the fact that leading editorials in the
island press discuss the subject.
Following are some Of the editorial
utterances:
MARKET MUST BE GUARANTEED
from the Maui NewsI
In view OF the serious fact that the
whole world is facing food shortage
greater than probably ever before
known, Gov. Pinkham's proclamation
takes on an importance II could not
otherwise have. Food costs are jump
ing so rapidly that an alarming pros
pect confronts not only Hawaii but the
whole country. The governor again
accuses the territory Of indifference
and inefficiency" in that II is largely
dependent on the mainland for the
food 1t eats. This may be the COVER
nor's way Of saying that the Islands
have been following the only logical
course possible under the circunl-
stances. Taken in connection with the
strategical situation he certainly has
no right TO blame anything but the
federal government.
The department of agriculture is
urging small farming" in q new sense.
It would have every back yard turned
into kitchen garden. It points out
the economy of milk in the diet, and
urges place for the family COW. And
from the table scraps of most every
family It would have q flock of hens
maintained. Under our conditions It
is safe to say that the average family
could, with comparatively little effort,
produce at least half its living in this
way. 1t Is being done in isolated in
stances now. II is along the lines of
true economy. The recent school and
home garden contests of the Star
Bulletin and the department of agri-
culture are factors toward this end
F.. G. Krauss OF the experiment sta
ton, who returned this week from q
conference along these lines in Homo
lulu, reports that absolutely no guar
antee of any kind can be secured from
the army department for any produce
cur agriculturists may grow. IL it Is
what the army wants, can be fur
nished in sufficient quantity on O
months notice, and q the price is
lower than anyone else in the world
will undertake to supply Il for, the
army will buy from Island growers.
Not otherwise. Yet this system would
put Hawaii in competition with the
specialists of the world for everything
the army uses. We do not even get
the benefit of freights, because
freight from the mainland in most in.
stances are lower than from inter-
island points. Just at present it would
look like good business to expand our
food crop planting; but this fact has
nothing to do with the principles in
Yolved.
England has lately adopted a sys-
tenn which guarantees to the farmer
q reasonable return for his labor. Our
own secretary of agriculture has just
pointed out that our farmers cannot
be expected to plant crops in excess
OF what their own judgment dictates;
and he agrees that the farmers OF the
United States are Just as patriotic as
any other class Of citizens. Yet our
governor, In effect, holds up our agri-
eulturists to seoFn because they are
not willing to compete with the world
on any and all food crops. 1t is not
just.