Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-26
HAWAIPS FOOD PROBLEM TAKEN in
HAND BY ORGANIZATION Of FORCES
lContinued from page one)

Ireblem, but Is really not a problem
or the United States alone, but OF thu
Allies as we'll There is q decided
shortage OF food IN the United state.
and allied Countries and 1t looks as u
these would be sacl a shortage for
year or longer. II appears that the sur
plus has been drawn on 70 such an eX
tent that Il has vanished. The que3
tiun Is, how can we relieve the burden
or draugnt on foodstuffs and do ouI
part and at the same time do oui
rart IN supplying foodstuffs needed III
the United States. refer particularly
to the sugar supply. The last annual
report Of the governor shows that in
the year ending June 80 the exporta
tiGn from the Territory of Hawaii OF
products of all kinds amounted to SCI
396, 900. Of which approximately $50,
100000 was sugar, about $7,6C0,000
was canned pineapples and $4,000
rice and 100000 other things, show.
ing that this territory is, as IL stands
today, factor as a food producer.
The expectation Of food products
amounts to over $500 per capita for
every man, woman aIid child in this
territory, which is fat in excess 0i
food production of any other part OF
the United States and perhaps the
world. -@.s -. =,
Cont cutaiI Sugar
Sugar is ole OF the main staples,
which is not ouly short but greatly in
demand BY the allied countries and by
the United States, and one Of the
problems Is TO handle the matter SO
that the production Of sugar will not
he reduced. 49,. -
Another point should like to take
up Is transportation to the Hawaiian.
islands fror the mainland. Expert
ence OF three years OF war has shown
that Germany has been unable to pre-
vent fliriy free movement OF shipping
u I'm gland and II Il cannot do that l..
cannot stop shipping between Hawai-
and the mainland. The demands oil
the country are going To require move
ment OF sugar that Is being produced
here. Assit is moved the bottoms that
carry Il win carry everything down
htkrS that we are accustomed to get,
and for that reason We must not do
anything which is going to curtaii
according to my idea, cur contribution
to foreign supplies and the rest OF the
country. What we should do Is 70
use ali OF our excess Producing .capa-
CITY and mobilize II and plant in such
3. way that IL viii relieve or reduce
4, the demands on toodstnffs in the
United states ~
Labor Problem Brought Up
President. Hageps of the chamber,
the first speaker, pointed out the linn.
tied amount OF labor available and
said that mobilizatiog of the National
Guard would seriously reduce this,
frorl the Splantation standpoint. he
said that labor must be conserved
and at this point suggested using the
larger school cililaren for plantation
production OF food crops.
rAt present. he said, THE piantas
lions have decided 10 produce now
only food FOR the plantations and nave
not taken up the larger problem OF
producing food for the genera popu-
iation.
Harry Hayward. Boy Scout commits
sioner, said that the boy scouts
chiefly want to know what they can
do. and Il Is obvious that there must
be restrictions else the majority will
be raising radishes and lettuce and
very few turn to the more needed po-
tatoes and beans.
Gen. r. s. Strong, commander OF
the Hawaiian Department, said the
army has been working on the food
problem for two months. Maj Charles
S. Lincoln and Capt. Jack Hayes
have been appointed to investigate
the situation here and tomorrow are
planning to visit Schofield to find
land to use for agricultural purposes.
1T Is the purpose OF the army to grow
II possible enough to care for the
army here, thus relieving the trans
portatiop service" he said I'VE also
plan TO buy all the local products that
can be obtained. We are planning
now to substitute in the army rations
IL possible sweet potatoes for white
as the former grow much better, anu
we are also planning similar arrange
ments for other things. The army
wants to aid as much as possible by
taking over the local surplus supply
from such an intensive gardening
scheme as outlined
N50yernor Pinkham was then called
upon. He read the following cable.
gram from Secretary OF Interior
Lane. received last night:
.tPiease urge upon your people the
fullest possible use Of all land this
year. Make yourselves as. nearly self.
supporting a. possible in foodstuffs
and inereass your surplus available
for continental consumption"
Governor Urges Action
The governor then said in part:
I'VE should instruct the people 10
do the best they can for themselves
instead Of crying for the government
to guarantee them q profit on their
products and to secure them mar.
ket. Make them secure their own
market by transforming their surplus
into such products as should pay them
and help their own subsistence.
The main problem is our own sup
port. am very glad TO see what the
plantations propose to do Tor them
selves and for the people here. but
notice the plantations want good
deal of help themselves. notice lney
are applying for 1t now, and notice