The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-07-26
STRIKE 4SEFTlED'T 4.
BUT FISHERMEN
ARE NOT FISHING
Unless They Keep Their Word
Marketing Commission
Will Take Charge
PLANS TO ELIMINATE 49,.
X 4. MlDDLEMEN ENTIRELY
Child win Be Backed BY Board
For Present--No Other Action
To Be Taken lust Now


and the strike ais off," according to
an official announcement of Food Ad-
a2tinistrator J, F. Child yesterday after
noon. But, notwithstanding their prom
Use to him, the fishermen have not put
to sea. Not one Of them started fish
ing yesterday. Up to late hour yes
terday-too late for them to do any
thing-not a fisherman had unmoored
his sampan; not one had taken on ice
or bait or gasoline. The strike may
be off, but there is no fish in the mar
ket and no immediate prospect of auy.
This situation gives point to the
deliberations yesterday of the newly
appointed Territorial Marketing Com
mission, which held meeting
for the purpose of organizing.
Mr.. Child was present and advised the
commission that the fish question was
all settled aud the. strike of. The
fishermen, he said, would go out yes
terday afternoon.
On this showing the marketing com
mission took no action along the lines
previously contemplated, which includ
ed taking the entire fishing question
out of the hands of the food commits
sion and of Mr.. Child and handling
it directly as an important part of
the duties of the marketing commits
sion. 1t was not until after the meet
ing adjourned that the commissioners
learned, through personal observation,
that the promises of the fishermen to
Mr.. Child had not been kept.
Plan Of Commission
The plan originally worked out for
the marketing commission and which
it was the intention to put into Oper
alton, had in view the entire ehmina-
| ton of the stallmen and of the fish
| ing companies. If the fish question is
! not settled and the strike not broken,
this plan will probably be revived at
the next meeting of the commission,
next Wednesday.
According to one Of the commission
ers, the marketing commission pro
poses to take over the entire market
ing of fish. The stallmen will be left
out of consideration and the fshermn
required to 1urn over their product to
the marketing commission. This body
will, upon the arrival of each samPan
in port with its catch, pay the fisher
men at once sixty percent of the value
of the fish, which will give them funds
wherewith to equip for the next vOy
age and also upon which to live. The
balance will be paid later, after the
fish have been sold, probably in about
fifteen days.
Saving Por Fishermen
The stallmen now collect twenty
percent of the selling price of the fish
The marketing commission proposes tc
charge only ten percent, for running
expenses, thus saving the fishermen
ten percent.
The marketing commission will also
refuse to recognize or deal with the
fishing companies They are to be left
out Of consideration entirely.
One of the commissioners said yes
terday that the marketing division is
thoroughly equipped to handle fish. The
floor of the present territorial market
is of concrete and with the expendl
ture of a little money can be turned
into an ideal fish market. Sewer con
nectiOus are already made, so there
~on he NO objection from sanitary
standpoint.
For the present, however, until it il
demonstrated whether or not Mr.
Child's handling of the situation il
going to work out satisfactorily, tn,
b
stand behind him and back him up t.
the limit. II his announced solution
turns out not to be the success h
hopes it will, then the marketing com
mission will step in and take charge
To Retain Aghtfoot
Those present at the meeting of tn,
commission yesterday were Chairman
Fred Bush, Eben Low, Frank Andrahe
John Clark and J. NJ. McChesney. Tn
commission went to some extent int
the financial affairs Of the old market
ing division but finally threw up it
hands and decided it could make Meth
er head nor tail of them. 1t was de
cided to wipe the slate clean and star
all over again.
The question Of the appointment o
manager was discussed but no actor
was taken. 1t has been unotficially de
cided, however, according to one of tn
members, to appoint Oswald Lightfoot
present manager of the marketing div
sion, and give him a chance to max
good. If he does, he will be retained
If he does not, another man will b
put in his place. But it is fully ex
pected that be will make good, wit
a strong commission behind him t
back him up