The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-12-04
Wage Question Serious

OOnulIlOns nave, cnhnHeu mhtef1dly
since the outbreak of war, bringing
largely increased cost Of production,
excessive freight rates, and enormousI
| taxes ..,t .a'r.. rl
gAs an illustration of. what has hap.
pened, let us compare the following fig
ures,, showing bonus and taxes paid By.
the Eva Plantation Company in the
last year before the war, and the bonus
paid this year, and estimated taxes to
be paid as a result of this years OPP.
erations: ~ - mr. 80.
" ~. =. Before Now
Bonus ....$i3,9lS.00 4 505,33g.00
Taxes ...... F5S,0sS.35 l,l07 $4,000
Total, :. -. .$72,oo6.85 $i,sI2,57s.oo
! PEI. Ton sugar 2.43 q, 46.40
Figures like these are 50 startling
as to suggest at least the thought that
perhaps the net gains and final diyi-
| bends TO the owners of the plantations
will not be so large as the prevailing
| hiEh prices for sugar would seem TO
indicate. This radical change in the
conditions to be met certainly calls
| for very careful consideration of the
| question as to whether or not some
| modification should be made in the
bonus. system TO bring II more nearly
In line to accomplish the purpose for
which it was originally intended.
Experimental Work ga'
"The excellent. service performed by
our experiment station continues to
be demonstrated, and will be fully
covered in the able report submitted
which contains q full review Of the iac.
eomplishments of the past year, Ten
| of the employees of the station have
! left for war service. This leaves the
station short handed, but this is d
| condition to be expected in times like
these, and must be met as best it can.
| 'rThe departure. of Mr.. Muir is a
most serious loss; and we trust his life
will be spared and that he win in due
time return to our services -r."t
Tribute To swanxy H.. 49, al
Boy During the year, past we have lost
! by death Francis Mills SwanZy, onc
of our oldest members, He. was ac.
lively connected with the development
Of the sugar industry since his arrival
here in 1881, and has seen it grow
| from small beginnings to its present
commanding position. He was first
elected trustee Of the Planters La
Dor & Supply Co, on October 30, 1889.
He filled the offices of auditor and
! treasurer for several terms, and was
/, elected president, November 20, 1898,
upon the reorganization of this asso-
citation, when. the Planters Labor 4
Supply Company, q corporation, was
: succeeded by the Hawaiian Sugar
Planters Association, and has since
served in this capacity for two TERMS.
| Appropriate resolutions were adopted
BY the trustees and spread upon the
records. D., s,...
Transportation Problems
Among the problems which will
confront us during the new year, that
of the transportation of our sugars to
market will not, be the least. As you
all know, the fleets. Of the American,
| Hawaiian Steamship Company and Mat,
son Steam Navigation Company have
| been requisitioned by the United States,
and several of the vessels which have
been regular callers, in our ports have
been diverted to other business. The
| association has presepte J its case clear.
" to the United States shipping board
and assurances are given that our need
y
1 which we will be called upon to pay is
yet to, be determined, but we can rest as
! sured that it will be q material incI ease
! over that previously enjoyed by MS, The
Investigation made by the association
as to transportation needs of the, terri,
tory revealed the fact, that. during tn =
70 months ending October 81, 1917, the
freight space :. used per capita of our
\ population was upwards of seven tons
without taking into. account the i'm
pbrts Of oriental mereh lndise.
Fixing Of Prices ..,.-,s .5I,rr5
4 1.-THE price Of sugar will also be
fixed by the government. and will
Il probably be materially lower than
would prevail IL trade were allowed to
proceed without governmental Gegu.
lation. -. .t,.4 ~r's {sy .r.#H. ,...
''The enormous increase in taxes.
aud it is by no means certain that
further increases will not, he made,
she high price Of supplies which have
in many cases doubled and trebled,
the advance in freight rates and cost
of labor and of every item entering
into the cost Of production, the shrink.
age in crops incident to, the drought
recently experienced, bring many Of
us face to face with condition which
calls for the exercise Of the most care.
full supervision and msaagemeut, or
many Of the estates will face a de.
ficit ihsteSd Ola profit, ] believe,
however, that the difficulties with
which we are confronted will he over,
come, and that our industry will flour;
ish and be the mainstpy Of Hawaiian
prosperity for many years 20 come -
Secretary Reports 90 g. .. o..
y In his report Secretary W. o., Smith
told of the election of seven new mem.
hers during the year, Frank n, Apder
son, w. H.. Baird, Charles T.. jacobson,
Brick A. KnudRen. s. 8. Peck, William
Williamson and H. Wolters, He men
tiOnad the death since the last meeting
of +. NJ. Swanzy and II. w, Thomas
, and included resolutions Of sympathy
y 4 4 A ? n