Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 180, 4 August 1894 — HAWAII’S “BLUE” LAWS [ARTICLE]

HAWAII’S “BLUE” LAWS

C0XSTITITI0N and LAWS Framed bv the Missiouaries. LAWS of the HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 5. lf a man snffer want in consot|iience of not obtaininp a snffioiency of focxl, and on that acconnt does not perforra the labor assigned him by his master, that servant is not in fault. Ile however should givo immediate notice, that his master raay know it. But the best way of all is to hike a definite bargain iu the first plaee, and that will prevent snbseqnent dilficulties. If this law be proclairaed in any village or district. the day of its proelamation ahall be the day of its taking etfect in that plaee, but even if it be not proc!aimed it shall novertheless take etiect ou all places on thoso Hawaiiau Islānds on the first day of Septomber of tho present year. All the words of this law having received the approbation of the Nobles and Representative Body, wo have berennto set our names on this tweutieth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundrod and forly ono, at Lahaina, Maui. (Signed) KAMEHAMEHA III KEKAULUOHI. CHAPTER XVI. LAW RESPECTING DEBTS AND USURY. When men are trading with eaeh other, it often oocurs that one receives tho property of another without paying for it immediately. In the estiraation of this law it is not well to run in debt, though it is uot mado absolutely tuboo, for a man migbt sometimes be in a very straitened circumstauces eouhl ho not run in debt, wherofore this protcctire law is estublished. 1. If two persons engage in a commercial transaction, or trade together and one runs in debt to tho other, and they make a definite agreement respecting the debt, thcn payment sball bo made at tho timo agreed npon. Bat if tho debt bo not cancelled, then interest shall be paid, at tho rate of ono pr. cont pr. month; and this shall bo the rato of interest for all debts that aro cancelled at the time agreed upon. This requirement applies to eommon trado and to acconnts whieh have not tho signatore of tha debtor. But notes of band, having the signature of tho Jebtor shall bo interpreted accovding to the purport of tho languago eontained in it. If the note specify that interestshall bo paid, tben it shall be so. But if tbo note do not raentiou interest. then there shall bo no iuterest nnloss thero bo mentioneda particulār time for payment, and that expiro without tho debt’s being cancelled, after whieh intorest sha!l ba paid as mentioned abovo. 2. Debts of promise, or acconnts not having thosignature of the debtcr, if they are uot cancelled wiihin a year from tbe timo that interest commcnced on them, ahall ho put iuto notes having the signature of tho dobtor In tbe note the rate of interest shall be mentioned, according to thei r mutual agreement, the law does not specify in such a case, And if tbero be no note given with the uamo of the debtor. then there shall be no ioterest after the first year. Bat if the debtor refose or be absent, aud on that account no noto be given, tben the judge shall ba notified tbereof and from the tiine the judge receiTes tho notice, interest may be reqnired, If tbis law bo ptoc’aimed in any viliage or district, tbea the day of its proclamation shall be the day on whieh the law sball take etlect at that plaeo. But even if it bo not I prodaimed it sball uovertbeless take etfect at all places ou tbese Hawaiian Islands on ihe first day of September ofthe present year. This law baving receircd tho approbation of tbe Nobles and Represeutatives Body, we have hereunto set our names tbis twenty-six day of April in the year of otxr Lord one thoosand eight hundred and forty one, at Lahaina, Maai. (Sigoed) KAMEHAMEHA III. KLKAULUOHI CHAPTER XVII. VAGRANT LAWS. lndolence is a crime involving the best interests of tbe state. £ven in tbe days of old it was considered a crime, and at tbe present time it is porfectly clear tbat it is a misdemeanor. Tbose who live without labor )ive in direct I disobdience to the commands of God, and in disregard of the opiniona of mankind. Wherefore iu a eouneil of the Nohlea and Repre.senUtive Body, this law was passed. 1. If a man be often seen running about, or sitting idly withont Iabor, or devoted to pay and folly, he sballbe laken before the judge. and if he eaonol bring evidence that he labors saflficieatly to pay for his board and clothing, ha shall tben be pot to bard labor for three montbs.

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