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cease servicing the Island. I sincerely regret PFEL's decision, all the more since It
was In direct violation of a promise made earlier this year to the House Merchant
Marine Committee. There appears little we can do about the cessation of service,
however, except to hope that the slack will be picked up by other American flag
carriers.
I am becoming increasingly concerned that the ties which bind American flag
carriers, their crews, and their unions to the shipping trade to American areas
in the Pacific may not be as firm as we would wish. I cannot state strongly
enough the gravity of the situation should other American carriers wish to cease
carrying cargo to our ports.
For this reason, I urge the Subcommittee's acceptance of H.R. 7189. The pas-
.sage of this measure Into law will guarantee not only that our precious cargo will
continue to flow from the West Coast, but al.so will protect future American
shipping interest In the Guam trade.
We in Guam want to continue our trade with our fellow Americans. Yet, when
leading labor leaders tell us to get our food In Asia, as they did during the 1971
Strike, we are left with little choice but to vastly lower our already marginal
standard of living and force ourselves to seek other markets.
I do not believe that this action would be in the best Interests of either my
constituents or of those who oppose H.R. 7189. We do not seek special rights;
we simply ask for compassion and understanding of our undeniable vulnerability
to West Coast labor disputes.
It Is requested that this letter be made part of your Committee record.
Sincerely yours,
AwTONio B. WON PAT,
Member of Congre»s.
Mr. DiNGELL. I suspect Mr. Matsunapa and Mrs. Mink would like
to arrange the calling of the witnesses and we will permit you to call
the witnesses in such order as you deem appropriate.
Mr. MATSUNAGA. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Our next witness, representing Acting Governor George Ariyoshi,
is chairman of the Board of Agriculture of the State of Hawaii. Dur-
ing the 1971-72 west coast dock strike he was chairman of the Grov-
ernor's Emergency Food Committee.
I am privileged and honored to present Mr. Fred Erskine.
Mr. DiNGELL. Mr. Erskine, we are pleased to have you with us to
present the statement of the Honorable George Ariyoshi. the Acting
Governor of Hawaii. If you will identify yourself for the record, we
will be pleased to receive your statement.
STATEMENT OF FEED ERSKINE, CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF AGRICUL-
TURE, STATE OF HAWAII, REPRESENTING THE HONORABLE
GEORGE ARIYOSHI, ACTING GOVERNOR OF HAWAII
Mr. ERSKINE. My name is Fred Erskine. I am representing Acting
Governor (leorge Ariyoshi. I am chairman of the PJoard of Agriculture
of the State of Hawaii.
H.R. 7189 dealing with uninterrupted shipping is now being con-
sidered for passage by the House of Representatives. By this testimony
I should like to ask for your support and cooperation in favor of this
bill.
Hawaii has too frequently been a innocent third-party victim of
disruptions in maritime interstate commerce. During the past 3 years
Hawaii has suffered through 176 days of interruptions in shipping
service. This is akin to having the city of Washington totally barri-
caded for 176 days.
On July 1, 1971, the west coast ILWU longshoremen struck, and
were out 100 days before a Taft-Hartley injunction returned them to