The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-27
THE HAWAIIAN GAZETTE
HTso EDITOR FRIDAY 1ahy MORNING ,s,1 aaV1
Protection, Justified

FACTS ABOUT gSUGAR--The report on the
cane sugar industry just published by the de-
partment of commerce contains the most extern
sive statistical study Of sugar production in Ha-
waii that has been made by the federal govern
ment Approximately one-half the report is de-
voted to the sugar industry of this one Territory,
As the authors OF the report point out the books
and records of the plantations were thrown open
to them and every bit Of available information re-
iating to every phase OF sugar production was
placed at their disposal. This action followed the
consistent policy OF the Hawaiian sugar producers
OF giving full publicity to their operations and CO
operating with the governmental authorities in
ascertaining essential facts and conditions govern
ing sugar production. The elaborate records kept
by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association and
the homogeneous OF the various plantations made
itpossble to compile unusually complete statistical
tables showing various elements entering into the
cost of production. .t...
The most striking general conclusion 70 be
drawn from the facts set forth in the report is
that the planters of Hawaii working with soil
OF no exceptional natural fertility and contending
against many unfayorable conditions, have been
able by the thoroughgong application Of the most
scientific methods of cultivation and milling, to
raise their industry to plane of efficiency unex-
celled in any other part of the world. .s."
"In the application OF scientific methods and in
the securing Of results" says the report, the cane
sugar industry Of the Hawaiian Islands will bear
comparison with any agricultural or mechanical
industry in the United States"
In the average yield of cane per acre and of
sugar per ton of cane Hawaii leads Cuba and the
other cane-growing sections Of the United States.
On the other hand the costs Of fertilizng irrgat-
ing. planting. ctiltivating and harvesting are all
higher in Hawaii than in any Of these other sec
- &c tyvn-
requiring an average Of twenty-one months for its
maturity, while in Cuba and many other cane
countries a crop is taken off every year. '
As result of these combinations of conditions
the cost of producing sugar in Hawaii and trans
porting it to the United States, according to the
figures given in the report, was approximately a
cent a pound higher in 1914 than the cost of pro-
ducing and marketing Cuban sugar. This differ
eriee it will be observed, almost exactly equals the
existing inlportduty on Cuban sugar &-,s..s.
The removal or appreciable reduction Of the
present tariff rate, therefore, would make it inn
possible for Hawaii TO compete under normal con-
ditions in the only market open toit The present
duty falls far short of covering the difference be-
tween costs Of production in Cuba and in Porto
Rico and Louisiana, as the expenses of production
IN the two latter are higher than in Hawaii. This
is an effective answer to the claim that the domes-
tic cane industry does not need the protection
afforded by the customs duty in periods of low
prices. ts4s. #l..-
In view of the Importance to the people of the
United States of producing every possible pound
OF sugar from our own soil it is fortunate thing
that American. enterprise and ingenuity have COM
bined to bring the sugar industry in this small
group of Pacific Islands to its present high state OF
efficiency so that from area about equal to that
Of Massachusetts it produces more than one
seventh Of all the sugar consumed by the Amer
lean people No stronger argument for the pres
ervation and continued encouragement of the DOM
estic sugar industry be presented than is con-
tanned in the results obtained in this one field
\ 90 81. tt