The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-04-30
CHAMBER INFAVOR
] o.. SUSPENSIONOF
HOMESTEAD LAWS
Recommends Action By. Congress-
A. War Measure, 70 Insure
Maximum Food Production
CONFERENCE Will, BE, 5. r..
HELD ON THE SUBJECT
Fears Are Expressed That Legis.
IatuFe viii Oppose Unless Pur-
pose Is Carefully Explained

/ 'ufNS WV SPpVSO OtVCoS Nutf
pose Is Carefully Explained
4 ~ fSrH. -'}l NJ G+GEFEaE@
The passage Of a resolution, intro
Idaeed at special neetiRg' Of the al.
rectors of the chamber of commerce yes.
terday morning, recommending the sus-
| pension Of the laws which at ptesnnt
require public lands now used for enl,
tvation OF sugar to become q tnrt 4of
tine homestead areas upon expiration of
jaxlsttng leases, is the fra step taken
an Hawaii TO continue d hakimtIii pfJ-
d,stIon of food stuffs in line with the
fedeEal governments policy for the
Iperiod of the war. .stF.a-.a fbI
I The resolution as originally intro.
dnced called for cabling to- Washing.
ton the action Of the chamber and for.
the chambers representative 20 en-
deavor TO have the request carried
through congress. OPpostisn TO this
plan developed in the meeting from
Delegate Kalaninna0le. who was pres.
ent by invitation, and from Senator
~. T.. Castle, resulting in a decision
10 pass the resolution with power to
che Legislative committee TO call into
conference the Delegate, Governor, Gov
orBor- @. J. Mccarthy, the prssi,.
IdeDt of the senate, speaker Of the house
and territorial and federal food CON.
mission heads. The committee WINS
given power to act. .....,
Wants Conference o.. n. -.
| The Delegate was no> opposed to the
resolution itself except insofar as II
called for immediately cabling its sub
stance to Washington: He felt that
there should be conference upon the
subject TO get the weight Of the com.
mrnity, or public sentiment, behind IL,
land let it be 30 understood at Wash
ingtpns WheR,he learned that Instead
of going to congress the request might
be made directly to President Wilson,
the Delegate, felt that there might not
b. need Of q conference. -. NJ,
In view Of the fact, however, that
special session of the Legislature g
about to be called, and because
the action of the chamber might
not baJ entirely nnderstood, later Oh.
position be created, IL was suggested
that the matter should be considered. at
least by the leaders Of the Legislature.
In brief, Delegate Kalanianaole sug-
gestcd that cooperative action on the
| measure was essential ands it would
present a solid front in Washington
Text or Resolution 81.
The resolution as introduced, was as
J follows:
WHEREAS, the reduction of 'Ha.
waii g contribution to the production
of foodstuffs in demand for world con
sumption is immediately impending on
account of the expiration Of leases Of
large areas of public lands of the Ter
ritory Of Hawaii, and the impossibility
of retaining such lands under cultiva.
tion and as producing areas under the
| provisions of the present land laws;
Now, Therefore, Be 1t Resolved,
that this chamber, as q war measure,
urge appropriate legislation by the con.
gress of the United States to prevent
the curtailment of the production Of
food products on the public lands of
the Territory of Hawaii, either by cx.
ecutive order withdrawing from homs-
stead entry, during the period of the
var and for such additional period
thereafter, not exceeding four years,
az may be necessary to harvest the un.
matured crops thereon, including one
plant and one ration crop, any terri
torial public lands now being cultivated
for the production Of, ,foodstuffs, or
which have been so cultivated within
six months prior to April l, 1918, or
! ~ authorizing the secretary Of the in
terror to permit persons, firms or cor
porations actually producing foodstuffs
On such public lands TO continue in such
production during the war period and
for. said additional period thereafter
lpop such terms as to rentals as in his
| judgement are wise"
John Warehouse, seconded by H. F.
Vernon, moved the adoption of the
resolution. A. Lewis, oJr., spokesman
for the. legislative committee, explain
ID the resolution. There might be lit.
tie opportunity to have legislation as
proposed passed through the next con.
gress, unless introduced, in the present
session. The committee believed that
he reduction of feodstufs is q matter,
which has passed the theoretical stage,
md is now an established fact. Lenses,
have expired and win expire. this wear,
taking out of cultivation few thou
sands of acres. This is a problem which
has been wrestled with for years. Each
visiting congressional party Inns tackled
to- He had been given 10 understand
that the secretary Of the sinterior had
appointed a special eommitteeato take
this under consideration, and the unit
terashould be approached with caution.
In the meantime these areas are be.
ing thrown out Of cultivation. "Iu or
Ter that Hawaii lean do Its part AZ
war measure it is time and advisable
these areas be cultivated right along, !"
| said Mr.. Lewis, .rt O. =
t'This will not dispose OF the home.
stealing problem. 1t Is only TEN.
Horary adjustment. a suspension of the
laws to give temporary relief and keep
ap our food production, 1t is war
measure. ~ en-
Senator Castle said be wished more
time had been given the members to
read over the prOROssd resolution. He
wished to know whether the resolut ION
allied for continuing the growing of
crops, planting of cane to 60 on for
four years after the war:
Mr.. Lewis said that 1t means 10 the
contrary, only until after the war
Fears Legislature as lFr
Mr.. Castle called attention to the ap.
.,..l, i'll Al