Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-09
High Priced Fish

Readers of the Star Bulletin have no doubt 1oi-
lound with sIs.,-a interest the renewed assault that
has heen made against the high cost al hsh OH
residents of the city, who have sent letters /" ths
naper setting forth the very difficult position OF the
man of moderate means who must supply his famiI!
with proper food
The significant feature Of this discussion - the
fact that despite the activities OF the FOOD colhhls
sion the investigation and the dlscussion the price
OF fish continues TO advance. and the poor man
food problem is of steadily increasing dlihcutE'
And this man Of moderate means cannot under
gland why it is that with ocean around us teehi-
ing with fish the fish food is almost the highest
priced in the market. Ii is very difficult for any
one 70 understand and still more difficult to tathom
the reason why the situation is not handled under
more aggressive policy than has yet been evidenced
from the food commission.
As il IL generally understood at present. the 1000
commission has simply stated that the condition
cannot he improved under the present method OF
handling fish The fish is sold at auction. The
overhead expenses of the fshmarket stalls are very
high and the fish eaters have to pay.
The thought occurs that an opportunity is now
presented for food commission with energy. en-
thusiasln and backbone to handle this problem in a
manner that will compel more equitable system
of transferring the catch from the fisherman to the
home The suggestion has been made that an I'M
provement might result if public market of some
character should be established. Yet the Terrific
rial market does not appear to improve with age
and the food commission has free rein there.
The StarRulletin is not in favor of the
method proposed by one correspondent-that the
families of the city refuse TO purchase fish. This
would be carrying out the boycott idea, which is
mot the proper spirit to cultivate and furthermore.
with our mixed population, it would be impracti-
cable More time and effort would be required to
rnlist the present ish-buying population in non,
purchasing campaign than could possibly be ex-
PENDED in a campaign of education to demand and
secure competent and proper management of the
fish supply for the city of Honolulu.
The food commission has authority to deal with
the food supply. 1t may be exercising this author
ity slowly but effectively. Unfortunately the pub
lie has not gained this impression. The public
feels if comment may be taken as fair test o. COM
munity opinion, that the food commission is splen-
did organization that, up to date, has not gained
many tangible results. People remember most
readily its statements of what cannot be done Prob
ably this is preliminary to telling what be done
with regard to controbof food products.
Thus far in dealing with the high cost of fish, the
food commission seems to be in somewhat similar
position to what General Hag would be if in his
advance through Flanders he should come TO a very
high stone wall and were to make careful exam.
ination of that stone wall and report back to his
government that there was a stone wall across his
path SO high that he could not get over it and he
had decided 10 sit down beside it.
In the estimation of this paper public board
can better afford TO make errors of action than in
action. Ii should endeayor TO accomplish something
and smash down some of the barriers that are found
between the poor man and the price of decent
meal for himself and his family.
Why should the government assume control of
wheat and sugar prices il meat, milk and fish are
left snhiact Ia nriaI Of COST 10 con