The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-06-21
COMMERCE BODY
URGES WITHDRAWAL
OF SUGAR LANDS.
Prevention Of Economic Waste
and Maintenance Of Food Pro-
duction Are Reasons Given
CLEAR STATEMENT OF
&C. POSITION IS GIVEN
Areas Should Be Taken Out Of
demonstrating Until End Of
War Is Contention

ITO prevent economic waste and to
maintain food production on the pub
. lie lands in the Territory of Hawaii on
which leases have expired or may ex-
pire during the war period, the Cham
brr of Commerce of Honolulu yester.
day adopted q report of it's Legislative
committee that such lands be with
drawn from homestead propositions and
continued as food producing areas, IN
der executive order Of the President
Of the United States, or by order of
the secretary. of the interior. or by act
0f congress
1.-THE statement of the chamber of com
merce, erystalized us the sentiment Of
the directors, board of retail trades
and members generally, is probably the
+ clearest statement of opinion by that
organization on a subject of such vital
Importance to the citizens of the Ter
ritory. The report gave the elearest
statement of q method by which the
lands could be continued in use for the
production of food products at q time
whom the government of the United
States needs every pound of food prod
uets that can be grown, and yet sets
forth a principle for their disposition
after the war is over, by providing foI
the returned soldiers who are now OF
may later be fighting in the Amer
can armies against the common enemy
The report which was prepared By
/. the legislative committee, for which
T.. Lewis, Jr., was spokesman, Is as
follows:
Text Of Report
Suggestions on the use of the public
lands of the Territory of Hawaii
with more particular reference to
= lands now or lately under intensive
cultivation.
During the war period and for some
time thereafter, Hawaii's contribution
10 the production Of food products for
wsrld- consumption will be curtailed
through the expiration of leases OF
large areas Of public lands Of the Ter.
EitOry of Hawaii and the impracticabil
ity of continuing such lands under ade
quate cultivation and as full producing
areas under the present provisions OF
the land law.
AS q war measure, and in order to
prevent material loss of production
Of food products on the public lands
of the Territory Of Hawaii, the Cham
Der Of Commerce Of Honolulu suggests
that all public lands of the Territory
Of Hawaii, the leases of which have
expired during the year last past, OF
which may expire during the war per
iod, and which lands now are, or dur
ing the year last past have been, cul
tiyRted for the production of food
products, unless otherwise disposed Of
be withdrawn insofar as may be deem
ed necessary to meet war conditions,
to prevent economic waste and to main.
tam food production thereon cOntinu.
ol1sly either by executive order of the
President of the United States or the
order of the secretary of the interior.
or by act of congress, from the opera.
ton. Of the present land laws of the
Territory of Hawaii during the period
Of the war and during such additional
period thereafter as may be necessary
70. harvest the plant or ration crop
growing on the lands at the expira,
ton of the war period and the first
ratoon crop of said plant crop and provi
son be made 50 as to permit persons
firms, associations or corporations now
producing or willing to produce food
products ON such public lands to begin
or to continue such production during
the war and during said additional
period thereafter upon such terms as tC
rentals or otherwise as in the Judge
ment of the Governor and land com
missioner of the Territory of Hawaii
may be advisable.
The chamber of commerce believe,
that demonstrating on a large scale
should not be carried on during the wal
period. Moreover, since desirable pub
lie land in Hawaii is limited in area
no disposition Of the public landl
should be made which ignores the duty
Of the community TO make adequat,
provision for those returning from wa
service.
After the War Period.
The following suggestions are per
tihent TO the ultimate solution of tn,
land problem. We favor the principle
Of demonstrating, but in the opening
Of highly developed lands for entry
il, - urged that the process be gradua
and u sound discretion exercised T.
prevent economic waste and to improv
social aud community conditions. From
part experience we believe a careful
economic survey of all public land
should be made before otfePlng ther
TO settlers With an adequate, intell
gent and proper preparation of project
suit to the conditions in each locality
gr, alter opportunities are present
ed for successful settlement. Cha
pcter of soil, climatic conditions, tram
portation, suitable crops, cost of crop
proper size and location Of hoRestea
lots, are some of the subjects concerr
tng which the fullest informatio
should he available before homestead