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Image provided by: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI
Newspaper Page Text
if?- THE GARDKN ISLAND TUESDAY, SEPT. 10. 1912. Opinions of Some Who Understand The Land Situation Here and Have Courage to Express Them i K There is a saying somewhere "That whom the Gods wish to des troy they first make mad." This' is surely illustrated in the action of the present government in Ho nolulu in the ale of the Punch bowl lots, and the turning out of those people whom the governor is always telling the authorities at Washington that he is so anx ious to have settle in this coun try. Here was the instance of the paternal desire on the part of the chief executive to aid this little country in preserving as far as possible the few white citizens in their homes. But this line of con duct should not surprise anyone who has watched the actions of our governor in his dealings with, all landless citizens. How differ ent would the case have been if it had been the leasing to a large T9er, and a very wealthy man on Kauai, four or five thousands acres of rich land, the larger part of which is fine cane lands. These lands were too good for the Portu guese who had labored on this same soil for many years, and when they put in their applications they were ignored, and these lands with many restrictions were offered to Russians who had never seen a stick of cane grow. The conse quence of this and many other ac tions of the land office, so dis couraged a large number of the old Portuguese settlers that numbers of them left the islands for the coast where all men have the same chance. It is the same thing today on the island of Kauai, while the governor is always talking of his desire to help keep the laborers in the country, those who are offered a homestead can only fi ml it "mauka of the cane lands," and miles away from any landing, while the land office reserves for the plantation, all the good cane land, and whatever spare water there maybe, for the large sum of a dollar per year, and practically such improvements as the planta tion may choose to make. Some of the lands opened for homesteads have neither roads to their lots nor water to use. Yet this good and well-wishing government is anxious for men fit for citizens to live on such lands and be satisfied. T h e continual complaint o f a scarcity of plantation labor is brought about entirely by the conditions forced on these islands by the executive working largely in conjunction with the plantations, because it's ever the hope of these plantations to force upon the gov ernment at Washington the idea that they must have a large supply of cheap Asiatic labor to continue the growing of cane in these islands. There never was a great er mistake than to say that enough laborers cannot be had in these islands. Had the laborers been treated with the same considera tion a s elsewhere, there would never have been a shortage. Ask any Portuguese man w h o has bought his ticket for California, and is removing his family there, why he desires to leave Hawaii, and you will find in nine cases out of ten that its because he cannot lease a piece of land suitable to his wants and his means. Why is this so? Simply because we do not have a government which is for the exclusive good of the whole peo ple of this Territory, but for the sole good of the plantations. For instance, why should the public lands which belong to the people of this country be put up for lease in large acreages, in most cases from 500 to 5000 acres, when the average man who desires to settle here might onlv need from 10 to 50 acres? Why should this man whom you class as a desirable citizen, be compelled to give up the idea of settling i n Hawaii simply because he cannot own a plantation, or because he does not need more than 20 acres to support himself and family? This is the only leason that there is a short age of labor for both the fields, and also as mechanics, to perform all the necessary work in these islands. As long as the planta tions rule in the Territory of Ha waii, they will work for cheap labor and as few American citizens as possible. The present gover nor, or for that matter any of the other governors that we have had since annexation, have all worked t o grant the plantations every thing they wanted, and one of the things that these plantations do not want is citizens who desire to own thier own homes. As long as you labor for plantation interests and are satisfied to work for wages you may be tolerated for years, but just as soon as you show any inclination to have a home o f your own, especially if it will take a few acres of leased government land from them, then you had better look out, for your time is likely to be very short. By this weed ing out system of would be set tlers, and home-making citizens, the plantations have succeeded in obtaining all the rich cane lands on lease from the government ot Hawaii for a fraction of their true worth. Lands which produce on an average AVz tons of sugar to the acre, and which a very conservi- Itive Journal, the Manual of Hawa- iian Securities for 1911, shows that the net profit from most of the plauta tions averaged 25 dollars per ton. Can any one looking for easy money see any reason why owners of plantation lands, especially lands rented from the Land Office for a dollar i n acre per year, should not use every endeavor to exclude American citizens, when by so doing they can get all the public lands for a mere song, and make $125.00 net profit out of each acre of cane? $1250.00 profit from one thousand acres of cane is not to be sneezed at, or looked at with disdain, and when you increase that acreage two or three times it looks pretty good to most people. So its quite easy to see where the opposition comes from, and why field laborers are not taken much care of, that is, if they are likely to w i sji to remain and possess themselves with a piece of land. Public lands yielding such enor mous profits t o those who are lucky enough to possess them for a fraction of their true rental, will always be a drawback to the set tlement of any country where a small minority ol rich corpora tions control the legislature a::d a governor appointed through their recomendations. In conclusion I would say, that if we really wish to have settlers in the Hawaiian Islands, the first thing that we must do is to have a law passed by Congress that all the public lands that revert to the Territory by leases, shall be offered for release to any citizen in such quantities as he may wish to cul tivate. That all small leases shall take precedent of the larger ones so as to give a larger number of persons a chance to occupy the land. The leases of the public lrfnd should not be put up at auction, but each applicant should send in his application for the desired amount, and at a specified time a drawing should take place in the public land office, or some other place appointed for that purpose, and these names which come out of the drawing, or application box, should be the winning lots, and leased at a stated upset price. This plan is better if you really desire to settle the people on the land, it's much better than holding an auction, as it should be the idea of the government to have as many people on the land as possible, and f you put the leases at auction the price is otten torceu up beyond what it is worth and an injury is done to the one who can ill afford it. Another thing which the govern ment of the Territory seems to have overlooked which adds great ly to the non settlement of this country by those white men that have been employed i o r many years on the plantation. There is no such thing in this Territory of Hawaii as a townsite. Although the government has leased thous ands of acres to plantations of the government land, no provision is made for any townsite where a laborer, or machanic, or in fact any of the citizen employee's on a plantation can own his own home. Nothing has been done for the white, or native citizen to in any way attach him to the soil, or district where he has labored so manv vears. but as soon as he is 1 no longer capable of performing his regular duties, he must vacate his little shack, or cottage, as the case may be, part with the only friends and acquaintances that he has known for years, and go, n stranger, to a new place. If the plantations owned in fee simple all the government lands which they now lease from the government, it would be a different thing, but the lands are public property, and there i s no reason why people wilting to reside here should not have the same rights and privileges as elsewhere. The government should, as soon as the legislature meets, suggest to the legislature the necessity of asking Congress to so amend our land law that townsites should be set apa t on all the Hawaiian islands, so that people both here, and from abroad, may come and purchase a resi deuce, or open up a business, which u n d e r present circum stances it is absolutely imiossible for them to do. On the island of Kauai where some of the plan tations desire the Federal govern ment to spent a million and quart er of dollars for the improvement of the harbor, there is not such a thing as a townsite. Recently a few lots were put up for sale at extra vigant prices, but as these were only for residences and could not be sold or transfercd for any other purposes, therefore the place where thev were sold couiu not bv nnv means be classed as a townsite. Then why should Uncle Sam spend a million and a quarter of dollars in a place where an American cannot purchase, or lease a piece of land tp go into business? Outside of Honolulu, or Hilo, one mav say that there is no opportunity for anyone to go into business, and until the govern ment condems land for townsites, or opens up sites on the public lands, no increase of citizens may be expected in Hawaii Citizen. Honolulu School for Boys, Inc. A Boarding Establishment For those of Moderate Means Preparatory, Grammar, and High School Departments Students may enter at six years of age and upwards Campus 18 Acres, Swimming Tank Liberal Diet. Next Term Commences September 9th. For Catalogue apply L. G. Blackman, Principal Honolulu School for Boys, Inc. P. O. Box 502, Honolulu. JEWELERS , FvsitvriizNG in" -the Silver and Gold Line, Rich Cut Glass and Art Goods. Merchandise of the Best Quality Only. H.F.WICHMAN&CO,Ld. Leading Jewelers P. O. Box 342 Honolulu MORGAN Waimea Machine & Automobile Works Geo. A. Bertram, Proprietor. General machine, Automobile and gas engine repairs, auto supplies, parts, etc. AGENTS FOR ACETELINE GAS LIGHTING CO. Vulcanizing We Are equipped with the very highest grade American machine tools and our facilities for the handling of automobile repair work are UP-TO-DATE Our efforts are to please our patrons, and a trial will prove to you how easily it is done. f WE DELIVER THE GOODS J JAS. F. Co. Ltd. Stocks, Bonds and Real Estate THE SSWICK-BALKE-Cfll IfNDER CO. Established over 60 years 71 Queen St., Honolulu Carry a Large Stock Billard and Six Pocket Tables. No. 857 Kaahumanu Street Waimea Machine & Automobile Works Tel 32 W. WAIMEA, KAUAI. P- O. Box K. DO "yOU" READ THE GARDEN ISLAND? WHEN IN NEED OF Paper Paper Bags, Twines, Stationery HONOLULU'S LARGEST PAPER HOUSE AMERICAN- HAWAIIAN I. PAPER & SUPPLY CO., LTD. Fort and Queen Streati GEO. G. GUILD, Vic.-Pre & Mgr Wondkr what Gov. Frear thinks of a supporter who is so lacking in intelligence as to try to pull two strings a t once. He who solicits a position and receives no recognition, necessarily feels sore, REFRIGERATORS Tiled Oak Exterior, 7-16 Opal Glass Interior. . Best in Values That Have Ever Been Offered the Consumer. BOWLING ALLEYS Supplies of All kinds. Make our Store Your HEADQUARTERS while in Honolulu. and unless he is made of the right stuff, proceeds to make an ass of himself. However, it does seem no more than proper, that Kuhio should at least send poor o 1 d "Mat" his autograph. Tin; editor of the Moaning Ad vertiser says: "It won't be long until we art laying our own eggs." After which it might be safe to surmise that within a compara tively short time, the editorial room of the morning bladder will be turned into a suitable chamber for the incubation of little editorial goosies.