The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-05-14
FOOD COMMISSION
. TO IMPORT RICE IS
I RROROSEDGlkB|I'IIL.L!
Measure viii Be introduced In
Legislature Giving Body Power
To Handle Islands Supply

attendant upon the seeruing ct an ade
lqnnte supply of rice for the residents
OF the Islands and upon its sale at nj
tnir price to the consumer may be-
found through the enactment by the
territorial Legislature of a bill which
has been drafted at the instance of
Food Commissioner w. II. Hoogs ST.,
aud which is to be introduced in the
house, probably today by Speaker II.
Il. Holsten. The merits Of this measure
were discussed by the food commits.
sion at a meeting held yesterday az.
ternOOn.
Under the provisions Of the bill there
is created a revolving fund Of $3.50, 900
for the purchase of a sufficient guam
tity Of foreign growH'r flee to meet the
needs of the Islands. This rice would
go to the dealers without added profits
and the consumer wot4d be the bene.
fciary. 80.
One Of the excuses, the chief excuse,
that has been offered for objecting or
refusing to sell Hawaiian grown rice
at the price fixed by the food commits
sion, has been that the price is lower
than that of rice imported from Japan
or from the mainland. An adequate
supply of Japanese rice at reasonable
price, would remove that objection,
whether rightly or wrongly raised, the
commission holds wrongly raised. o.,
Cause Of High Price -. .oD
Before the food commission yester.
day afternoon the discussion brought
out the point that thetchief cause for
the high cost of Japanese rice is. the
high freight rate. In this connection
Mr.. Hogs said that he felt almost
certain that permission could be Sc,
cured from the United States Govern.
ment to have rice shipped here from
! Japan upon transports which are usual
ly lightly ladened when travelling in
this direction.
1t might also be possible, Mr.. Hogs
pointed out, to secure the subsidized.
rate of $3.50 a ton from the Japanese
government for rice brought in japan
ese vessels. This meant a similar saw
ing. 81 ..
BY eliminating middlemen's, profits
the price of Japanese rice would thus
be brought to about the price fred by
the commission for Hawaiian grown,
rice and the temptation to proflteer
would be removed. Section sfour Of the.
| proposed law covers this point Of profit
making on the rice; bought through the
commission. -''"S ~"
mo Profit Allowed
hMr. noogs' idea is to have the rice
landed at Pier 8 and warehdused there
at no cost to the purchaser. Rice
| L. L. L.. .
at cost, plus landing and hauling
charges. Amy persons found selling or
reselEng' this rice at figure higher
than that set by sthe food commission;
are, to be prosecuted under Sec. ], Act
22l of the session laws of 1917.
Text Of Bill 81 ~.
The text iof this important food ad-
ministratiOn bill is as folloWt:
kAN ACT
To Authorize the Food Comm ssion
of the Territory of Hawaii To
Procure and To Dispose of a 7
Sufficient Quantity of Foreign
Grown Rice For the Needs of
me Inhabitants Of the Terri
tory. 1trlt
Be 1t Enacted By the Legislature
of the Territory of Hawaii:
Section l. The Food Commission
of the Territory, of Hawaii is EN-.
powered and authorized to secure
and deliver in Hawaii during the
period Of the war and for as long
a time thereafter as it may deem
necessary, either upon consignment
or purchase, of asmueh foreign grown
rice. as in its discretion it shall
find, to be, necessary to supplant the
supply of Hawaiian grown rice, aud
that imported or that which may be
imported by private interests
Section 2, In. the exercise of its
powers and, duties as under this Act
the commission may, on behalf Of
the Territory make any necessary
arrangements, contracts or agree
ments with the government of the
United States or of any foreign,
allied or neutral country for the
acquisition, transportation and de,
livery Of rice into the Territory,
and may make such arrangements
as may be necessary for the insur-
ance, storage and protection of such
rice.
Section 3. The commission shall
sell the rice imported under the
T prOvisioas yIOf thisnvAct in such
amounts and at such times as it
may deem advisable, and at such
prices 'asSwin cover all costs Of
purchase, importation, delivery and
storage and any expense incidental
thereto. 49,
Section 4. Amy person or cor,
porations selling, re selling or 9th
| ,ssn n q, -. - II