The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-06-12
HE ADVERTISERS SRM-WEEKLY
Sugar and Patriotism,

Sugar, an important article Of food in time Of
peace, is doubly in time Of war, both because of
the energy contained in pound of sugar as com.
pared with pound of other foods and because the
conduct of modern war has developed many addi-
tional uses for sugar. Therefore, the sugar com,
panies and farmers would be performing patriotic
duty by increasing the sugar output this season.
THE above extract is from an appeal issued by
IL the secretary of agriculture during the pres
ent week. 1t is not reproduced, says Facts About
Sugar, in its issue Of May 20 because it contains
any thought new to our readers The same facts
have been reiterated many times in these columns
We feel, however, that it is worth while to call
special attention to the statement OF Secretary
Houston in order to direct the attention Of the
sugar producers of the United States to the inn
portance, not only to themselves but also to the
nation OF making their efforts count to the fullest
possible degree toward record production of
sugar both this year and next.
The secretarys remarks are addressed primarily
to the beet sugar industry since the cane crop Of
1917 is already we'll advanced in the making. While
the beet planting season is practically at it's end,
we are glad to be able to say from reports received
from the various beet sugar companies, that a
particular endeavor to increase the beet acreage
has been put forth without waiting for any official
urging.
While it is important for the grower to do his
share by producing larger and better crops the
mill and factory has part to play as well in this
great national campaign, Every manager super
intendent, chemist engineer and other employe can
do something toward the avoidance Of waste and
the increase of efficiency. There is much appara-
tus that can be replaced with new to advantage
during the next few months; much that needs to
be overhauled and tuned up The study and adop-
ton of better methods and the use of the best
obtanable materials will not be wasted effort this
year. We recommend for every mill and factory
special campaign, beginning now, to stop leaks
and improve efficiency.
Here is the opportunity for every man engaged
i'll the sugar industry to enlist in the national SER
vice. 1t is not a snowy task, but one that will
achieve solid and important results We believe
that the members Of the American sugar industry
are fully alive to their responsibilities in this re-
spect We have heard of many activities that go
to show that this is the In Hawaii, for ex-
ample, special effort is being made to increase
labor efficiency by bringing about more regular
attendance by laborers who have made it habit
in the past to absent themselves for day two
each week We'note suggestion by one progress
sive beet company to its growers that each one
add a single acre to the amount he has planned
to devote to beets this year Another company
has established loan bureau through which it is
extending financial aid to the growers in making
their crop.
These are wholly practical undertakings and
in the sum total they can be made to count greatly
toward increased production