298 



• Mr. C. J. Austin, who was now called upon to address the 

 meeting, spoke in part as follows : 



NO DANGEROUS PEST IN HAWAII. 



"In the Territory of Hawaii the rubber planters are unusually 

 fortunate. There are a few insects which will need some care, 

 but I believe that I can say that in every case we have at hand 

 the parasite which will destroy the pest. There may be some 

 which we do not know of as yet, but I doubt if there are any of 

 sufficient importance to cause trouble if the trees are carefully 

 watched. 



"There is some slight indication of a fungus disease, but this 

 troubles only the leaves and has not gone into the wood, where it 

 would create damage to any extent. On this account, with 

 prompt action and care I believe we are safe from trouble of this 

 kind. There are fungus diseases extant in this Territory which 

 attack the roots, but so far they have never attacked rubber. On 

 the whole I believe that I am safe in saying that we are very 

 fortunate and have no insect or disease which can be considered 

 a dangerous enemy to our new and coming industry of rubber 

 production." 



Mr. D. C. Lindsay, President of the newly formed Hawaiian 

 Rubber Growers' Association, at the request of Governor Frear, 

 spoke as follows : 



THE FUTURE OF RUBBER. 



"The large number of vigorous and healthy rubber trees which 

 I have seen here today have impressed me most favorably. The 

 new industry appears to me to be most promising and I expect 

 that it will go ahead. We are always in a matter of this kind 

 apt to err on the side of conservatism. It is hard indeed to have 

 faith in something that one cannot see before him, but I believe 

 that there is a great future ahead in store for rubber growing in 

 the Territory. Fifteen years ago there v.as no one in the islands 

 who could foretell the tremendous amount of sugar which is 

 now being raised here. If it had been predicted it would have 

 raised a laugh. It is a common saying that a man from the 

 country must go to the city to see wonders and learn, but from 

 what I have seen today tlie reverse is true and the men from the 

 citv should conie to the countrv. 



