The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-02-21
ECONOMY BIG PROBLEM

1t is easy to talk economy, to say that county governmental ex-
penses must be held down, especially when all must agree on the
necessity, but the putting of the suggestion into actual practice is
the problem which the board of supervisors has found a difficult
one. There ire limbs and twigs they would like to shear off in
their pruning which they are forbidden to touch by the territorial
laws and any who have attended their meetings and listened to their
deliberations on the subject cannot fail to recognize that their OPP
portunites to reduce expenses are sadly limited.
Under those circumstances it was natural that they should turn
to items of child welfare work and pensions and care for the in
dgents as ones IN which savings could be made. There have been
salary and wage reductions where the board could exercise that
right. Unfortunately it has been the poor and those with the small
est salaries and means who have felt the pain of the shears most
keeny. In their behalf, at least in behalf of those who have been
receiving county assistance, appeals have been made and it has even
been suggested that road work is less essential than assistance to
needy mothers and children.
One who looks over the budget that was adopted for the first
three months of this year will see that the board has cut down
largely in appropriations for roads. To eliminate all road work
and all proposed road improvement is out of the question. Especi
ally is this so in the pineapple growing districts, the more sparse
iy settled sections where that branch of agriculture prevails and
into which it is being extended.
Road conditions in several sections of Maui are a constant
menace to the Islands second industry and those who make their
living from 1t, and to the business and financial institutions which
make the continuance of pine growing possible. Should heavy
rains come at the height of the pine season it would mean grave
disaster to the Island, Thousands upon thousands of dollars would
De lost 10 persons VINO have put their all into pine growing and
have borrowed money or lived on credit until the day when returns
would come in. 1t would spell disaster to the merchants who have
gwen credit for goods and supplies for the pine growers and would
entail tremendous financial losses upon those who had extended
credit to the small merchants. 1t would mean practically bank
ruptcy and pauporism to many residents of Maui.
Road work in such districts must be done. Perhaps the pub.
lie might put up with rough and disintegrating pavements in
towns and between towns, but the pine growing industry must be
safe guarded.
Maui News agrees with all that is said as to the necessity of
not going backward but forward in carrying out the child wei
fare, laws, in care for the indigents and the sick. 1t is proud of
the splendid record Maui has been making and wants to see it kept
up. But Maui News also recognizes that road work cannot halt.
There are sections of Maui where most of the employment furnish
would take their sole occupation and income producer from many,
would further increase the number of indigents There are other