The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1919-11-11
GOVERNOR MEETS
PEOPLE OF KAPAA

Last Friday evening very satisfact-
ory meeting was held in the public hall
at Kapaa, in which Governor Mccarthy
and Land Commissioner T. C.. Bailey,
with other representatives of the Ter
ritorial Administration, discussed the
homestead problems and other quest
ions of interest there, with "A large
gathering of the Kapaa and Waipouli
homesteaderc and their families.
About two hundred and fifty people,
mostly homcSteaders were ia the hall,
and much enthusiasm and interest was
displayed in the Governors views upon
the questions of the best contract to
be entered into between the home
steaders and the mill, the Kapaa wharf
and landing, etc.
The Kapaa and Waipouli home
steaders, under the leadership of NJ.
R.Aguiar, Jr., president of the associ-
alton, displayed considerable enthusi-
asm over the discussion of these quest
ions, and wc~e not backward at all in
speaking out their minds when the oc-
casion offered.
The Governor and party arrived at
1880 PIN. and found a good audience
waiting for them.
The president OF the homeGteader' s
association opened the meeting with
a few words relative to it's purpose,
and then introduced the Governor.
Il am very glad to be with you to-
night, and hope that by an open dis
cussion of the homesteading and other
problems here we can arrive at a cor
rect solution of any questions that
interest you, as TO your contracts with
the mills, as we'll as the proposed
wharf, and other matters.
AS to the question between the
planters and the mill, believe there
is happy medium between the home
steader5 and the mill men, and | am
here to see them both get fair play.
Cur experiences at Waiakea, on Ha
wdii, have been valuable. The Govern
ment has built roads, etc. for the i'm
provement of the land, and all factions
are pulling together. / believe that
though there a few exceptions to the
general well doing-the homesteading
movement up there is proving a great
success.
In regard to the Kapaa wharf, the
last Legislature appropriated $1S0,000
for tina. improvement, but, owing to
the war conditions in which the coun.
try has been plunged for the past two
years, this fund will not be available
yet.
Usually, while waiting for the
money, in such instances, we are able
to draw upon the current funds, but
unfortunately there is a great lack of
any such income this year, there being
a deficit of about $240,000 from our
previous income, as result of the
war-the principal reason for this be-
ing that this year the excess war
profits tax charged against the past
four years was deducted from the Ter
ritory's income. AS a result of this
diminution in the Territory's income,
we are in no position to build the Ka-
paa wharf this year.
There is also a doubt as to the ul-
innate practicability of the Govern
ment's spending that amount of money
in this location. The long haul of
freight for Kapaa which is now re-
quired, by the fact that Nawiliwili is
the nearest available public landing
for the freight for the homesteaders
over here, and others, can be obviated,
we hope, but theroughnes of the sea
we hope, but the roughness of the sea
great expense involved in building a
proper and secure breakwater there,
causes us to feel that we should not
spend any money there if it is possible
for us to find a location for the land
ing that is just as good, for all practi-
cal purposes.
I'VE saw the landing and proposed
wharf site today, and / must confess
that it does not look as though YES
sci can be sure of coming in safely
especially in times of storm.
81 don't wish you to regard me as
opposing the wharf project here-but
| am "kanalua." We will proceed with
it, however, as soon as the money is
available.
"As to the new contract between the
homesteaders and the plantation, that
is something that interests you all, un-
doubtedly, as well as the Government,
and every effort will be made to settle
upon contract that is fair to both
sides. We are working on it still, and
| am sure it will finally be developed
into a satisfactory agreement"
After the Governors talk, consider
able argument ensued as to the merits
of the old and new contracts.
l.. c. Johonnot asked: Why isn't the