The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-03-23
CHAMBER
SHOWS Big GAINS
W. o. Smith Reviews Tremendous
Prosperity Of Islands Il,
the Past Year

Reviewing the prosperity OF the lsl--.
ands during the past year and ~ o.,
Invites Of the Chamber Of .Combcscc
Of Honolulu during the year, Geofgn.s
w. smith, retiring president, prsbI ~
his report to the annual meeting Of
members yesterday tiY N ~
The report points to the increase IN
the revenue derived from Sugar Of
$S,724,843 over 1915 and adds that i'm
dications for the present crop are pro.
pitious and with promise Of equahng
the record Of last year. Speaking OF
the growth Of the pineapple industry,
Mr.. Smith said: 5l
rwhile the consolidation, Of inter
ests engaged in this industry has made
for economical management IL is q
question IL the elimination of the small
grower Is Of benefit to the community,
more particularly as the greater part
Of the net income is lost TO the Terri.
tory by passing to individuals resident
on the mainland"
Noting the practical Disappearance Of
the rice industry as factor in the
agricultural resources of the Territory,
attributed to competition from the
mainland, lack Of demand and scarcity
Of labor, the report states;
"The contingency, perhaps remote,
Of our being isolated by siege, would
indicate the adyisability Of endeavor-
ing to revive this industry, more par
ticularly in view of its value as an ar
ticle Of food for our large military
population"
The report points out the beginning
Of rehabilitation of the tobacco indus
try, the excellent results obtained from
promotion committee work, the promise
Of greater shipping tonnage for the ISL
ands and the notable increase in the
number of ships visiting Honolulu for
bunker coal that promise to become an
important factor in local shipping.
| The report reviews the work Of the
chamber in supporting legislation be.
fore congress, the activities before the
| legislature and the work, Of the com.
mittee ON county and municipal af-
| fairs. On municipal affairs, Mr.. Smith
states in his report;
"The position Of this chamber and
its Representative membership should
call for more active and aggressive
attention to municipal affairs.
r"This can be done, without partisan
bias, in enforcing q recognition Of the
fact that the conduct of city and coun-
1 ty affairs is purely business propo-
sition, to be conducted along business
lines
tUnfortunately this attitude does not
| wholly exist in our municipal body.
Personal feelings and ambitions are
often permitted to influence action to
the detriment Of county interests. The
aim seems, frequently, to be play to
the voter looking to future political
Ipreferment.
4 HIf the members will but realize
that municipal business is thing not
apart from their regular business but
an integral part Thereof they can,
through concerted opinion expressed
through the chamber, secure more eff.
cient and economical results.',
Il Mentioning the recent attempts to
secure bond issues for municipal i'm.
provements and the question that has
arisen over the merit of bond issues,
Mr.. Smith added:
"Whether il were better to concede
bond issue, with the required interest
, charge and necessary sinking fund pro-
vision, or to secure through legislative
action minimum and temporary in
crease in the tax rate, is question
that will have to be decided at an
early date. -
"Although the chamber, by a narrow
majority has recently given tacit APP
proval to the proposed issue, the alb
sence of an adequate and comprehen-
!; sive plan on which the funds obtained
are to be expended, as submitted by
.. the officials promoting the idea, suggest
! that as many restrictions be placed on
the expenditure as is possible.
"The result Of the plebiscite on this
question was severe indictment OF the
civic interest Of the community. -
"The small vote indicated an almost
entire lack Of interest on the part OF
the majority of our citizens and, while
the authority asked for was withheld
the result was SO close as to call for
q censure Of the substantial electorate
in our midst. d" -. T"a 80
The report reviews other activities Of
the chamber and noting that the
slight increase in membership during
the past year is "not large enough fol
9 congratulation" states that there is q
i large number of young men In the city
! with progressive, but not radiea
!, IDEAS that should be enlisted as mem
{ bers of the chamber.
T.. A..