Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698067974555.pdf (Guyana)
51 Mernbers Present.

LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE .

COUNCIL Demerara).

COUNCIL.

Govt.

Notices.

52 The Hon.

Dr. C. Jagan (Central FRIDAY.

26TH MAY.

1950.

The Hon.

W. 0.

R. Kendall (New Amsterdam).

The Council lency the Governor, K.C.M.G., Chair.

O.B.E., met at 2 p.m., His Excel .. Berbice).

Sir Charles Woolley, M.C., President, in the The Hon.

A. T. Peters (Western • .. ... _;.I The Hon.

G. H. Smellie (Nominated).

The Hon.

F. E. Morris.Ii (Nominated).

The Clerk ead prayers.


PRESENT ' : · The President, t Governor, K.C.M.G., Sir Charles O.B.E., M.C.

His· Excellency the Woolley, Campbell The Hon.

the Colonial (Acting).

D.J.

Parkinson.

Secretary, Mr. .

ofl th2 meeting of the the 17th of May, Council held on Friday, as printed and circulated, as re.ad and confirmed.

were taken PAPERS LAID The Hon.

the Attorney-General, Mr. T.he-COLON/LAL SiECRETAIRY laid F. W. Holder, K.C.
on th2 taible the folloiwing The Report o.f the-British documents:- Guiana The Hon.

the Financial Secretary and Mr. E. F. McDavid, C.M.G., Volunteer June, 1948, to 31ls:t March, 1950.

Force for the period 1st Treasurer, C.B.E.

The Hon.

C. V. Wiitht, O.B.E., (Western Essequibo).

rrhe Tiwen:ty-fifth Annual R12port of the Imperial Fores-try of lliford,-Jl 948-1949.

Institute The Hon.

Dr. J.

B. Singh, O.B.E., (Demerara-Essequibo ).

The Thirtieth of the Imperial War Gr,a ves Com mis­ s-ion.
Annual Iteport The Hon.

Dr. J.

A. Nicholson (George­ No.

3) ReguLations, No.

14 of 1950.

Tthe ]mJmi;gra:tfoill (A'.m!2\tldrmelnt town North).

The �IN�NC[JA.L SiEORETA1RY & The Hon .. T. Lee (Essequibo River).

TREA,SURER laid on the table the fol­ lowing doC'Ument:- : -The Hon.

V. Roth (Nominated) .

:; The Hon.

C. P. Ferreira RJver).

• • The Hon.

T. T. Thompson (Nomi- (Berbice nated).

The Hon.

Capt.

J. P. Coghlan (Dem­ erara Riv�r).


Sitaitement of ·supplementary Loan EXpend:iture-wlhich has oocurretl during the yie,ar 1'948 and which has not been schedule admitted under Colonial for that !

}11ear and is.

to be as.

a ciharge to Loan Funds included in any previous ·on 2'813.

Re.gulati GOVERNMENT NOTICE CURRENCY BILL) 1950 Tne Hon.

D. P. Debidin (Eastern Demerara).

The Hon.

J. Fernandes (Georgetown Central).

The Hon.

Dr. G. M. Gonsalves (Eastern Berbice).


The FINAINOIAL SEORETAIRY & nrotice of the intro­ TREIASUIRER.

g.av-e duction and firsi reading of the follow­ ing Bill::- A iBILL intitu1'2d ANiOE to, implement to provide the.

eiasteTn Cadlbbean ifor a uniform curr:ency group- of the British territories."

�'AN ORDIN­ ani AG!RJEEM 1ENT' in 53 Unofficial Notices.

26 MAY, 1950.

Debate on President's Address.
54 UNOFFICIAL NOTICES Mr. Wl]GiHlr gave notice o.f the-fol101w­ ing motions:- the immediate widening Road between Lamaha Street and Thom.as Ro•9-d." o± Vlissengen G AMBLING AND 'PUBLIC LOTTERIES "WiH:EJR�S the Gambling 95 was, pas·sed Ordin­ in the ance Ohaprter year 1902; "AiND WHEIRJEAIS it is desirable in vie,w of conflicting to investig,ate or should not be a New Ordinance; pulblic whi2ther there should opinion that this "BE IT RJE,60 1ED Counicil request H" Exceillency the to Governor to appoi a Committee as it m1al{l2' such rec01IDmendations to may deem ap'Propriate· any amendmeintS/ of the La1w as it stands.
forms of Ga,mbling teries."

to all at present in rela-tion and Public Lot­ with rega;rd ✓FEDERATION DT.

N]CHOL:SOiN gavi2 notice of the folloiwin,g motion:- ' l'hat, this Council acC'ept e th2· proposed Caribbean principl British to consider in a Committee of all the unofficial th2 recommendations Ais,sodation Report."

mem beirs of the Council in the Closer Federation and agrees Colonies in of ·-c}._.

NOTICE OF QUESTIONS AFFAIRS OF B.G.


AIRWAYS, LTD. Mr. FER'RJE,IiRA gave notice of the following :- questioinJS 1.How many Pilots are em­ by the Bfritislh Guiana Airway!

:; plo,yed Limited?

2.Of theS12, ho,w: many are British?

3.Is it not possible to secure (1a) the sierv.ices, off BTiti3lh Pilots?

(lb) suitalb}e iBtritish the various services?


Aircraft for 4.What amounts wer2' paid in HARD CURRENCY Pilots (a)lby way of s1alaries for the years 1948 and 1949, (lb) for Miachineis and Spare to Ptarts for the years 1948 and 1949, (c)as agency and!or 0th.er charges and 1949?'
for the years 1948 CONTROLS �'WHEIBi0AS ,get112ral is expressed1 satisfaction several a:ndior various fo:rtrns of Export, limpo['t and Local Control, including Oontrol, Curr•einicy pulblic dis­ as to th1e '·'BE IT RESOI.N1En that Gov­ to appoint a ernment be request2d Committee to investigate and reporit on the said Controls and whether and s.uch Oontroh al"2' necessary expedient of the in the interests; Colony ofi Bdtish Gui,ana."

INHERITANCE �'.WIHERJMS LEGISLATION there exists.


in Eng­ (Family Pro­ Act 19318, Chapt2r 4'5, 1 & 2 land the Inheritanlc.e vision) Geo.

VI which sa-id Act has been of great assistance thereby; to those affected "BE IT R\ESIO[.N 1EJD that i!his Go:velI'nm12nt Council request ,an Ordinance 1g similar pro­ to the siaid Act viz:-the visions, inheritance (Family Provision) Act 1938, Chapter 45, 1 & 2 Geo.

VI."
VI."

containin to enact WIDENING OF VLISSENGEN Mr. F-ElRNAiN"iDEiS motion:- following ,gave notice o'f the ROAD WHERJEAiS there is at pre,:;ent of traffic congestion serious into the City from the East Coia.st; "AiND WHEThEAJS this, con:gesrtion lo3s o;f ma�y• lead to.
iaccid,ent entailing life; coming '�E IT RESOLV1ED that this 1Gouncil ri2commend to Goveirnmenit REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION ADDRESS , PRESIDENT'S OF Mr. DEIBIDiiN: Sir, before the Order in to re'.f\:r outlined to this Government wrnh may I be to · the v,ery excellent of the Day 13 proceeded p,ermitted address which you gave to this Council a weeik ago.
Your Excellency that addreS's certain question3 relating the past we have had opportunities in conjunction discussing usually with the Budget Statement That, to my by the Financial mind, is a V'2TY important This is a,spect.

the ;beginning bers of this Council ought to be given an and in the of your addre2s or a new session Secretary.

of policy and Mem­ given 55 President;s Address.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

W.I.

University Ex.

Fund.

56 to discms, maHers of polic1y to this Govern:ment.
opportunity relating Lmcy has re!fen::ed important matters am therefore or so open for the· purpose it in this Council.

Your Excel­ to a nu..."'11.ber of very in your addres,3 asking ycu to delclare a day and I of dis'cussinig in th2· result, much fu·rther would have to get dawn to the matters subject by s.ulbject tion before we can do anything be of any r21al value.

by ques­ that would and question bec,ause we There are, s12veral mattelI',s which I, wish to take .

up.
up.

One, for which, I must of the disposal per.sonially, instance, is the question or use of the Flood Refid Fund.

A pro­ posal has been mentioned say, does not meet with my approval and, perhaps, with that of other Members of this Council.

be discu.

::sed, ex,ampl12·.

Others include the questions of drainiage industrialisation, important and ar•e matters on whic:h Member,s give their year.
I feel it ought to and that is, only one would have to during the course of the and all of which are of this Council viJ21ws· himself w,as called and knows that owing to the fact that mee1Hng fell He also the othe1r Mr. WIGHT: The hon.

Member for Eastern Demera.Iia is a member o':f the Flood Relied: Committe2 we fr11ad onie meeting and that certain have to be obtained.

figures knows thia t a.

2eting day but, unforiunately, that several members including wer,e engaged els!r1wh2re through early date.
It se2 to me the pos-ition that we will have: continue sums of money a1s we have been doing for the b2nefit of ne,cessitou That s children.

is 'being cairried commendations e[',nmenit by ch2que.

Another meeiting of the Com­ mittee will !be held at an early· date to con­ what should be done with the sider, balance o,f the fund.

on in acco,rdrance with re­ made biy1 the Local Gov­ and the amounts are being paid ill have to meet at an ,and we � to spend and irrig,ation, development The PRJEiSIDEN'T: I will.
certainly is The PRESH)ENT': Council proc12ed with the Order of• the Day.

will now to do in my I only men­ already n from myself, per-· of importance It is purely a matter for as a very good way in which part wh·at the hon-.

Member has· said, that has not c'Ome or will not do consider but I do not think there b anything address before this Council so, in concrete form.

I think the point the ·hon.

Member has chosen to mention about the Flood Relief Fund has nothing with this Council.
the Mayor and his Committee.

tioned it as a suggestio sonally, of the Fund might be used.

The disposal of the Fund by the Flood Relief Commit­ tee has nothing to do with this Council and I cannot agree that it is somethin which should be debated in this Coundl.

If the hon.

Member has any suggestion of his own he can very well make it to the as I have done.
As Flood Relief Committee matte.rs, I have reg,ardr:; given a clear indicatio n to Members that they will come before this Council item by item, and I do not think the hon.

Member need have any fear that 'thi2 Council would not be able to discuss in any of the important matte rs, mentioned my addrie:ss.

what he has we might set said, however, a day aside for general All I fear is that_ it would not take us veil'y I will consid2r and!

perhaps other impo;rtant di�cussion.

g EXHIBITION FUND FOR W .I.


U NIVERSI'l1Y COLLEGE The COLONIAL S1ECRET'ARY: motion standing sire to move the, following inmy name:- I de­ "That, with refere.nce to His· Excel­ No.

1 of lency the GoV12rnor'S' (1.\/I-ess,age the 15th olf Aipr-il, 1950, this Council proves of -the sum of $6,000 vid:ed an EiXh:i!bition Ex1h.iibitioners Univ2TS1ity Colleg.e, of the West Indies."

ap­ ibeing pro­ from Oolony revenue to establish Fiund for the beni2fit of .
foom this Colony at the scheme I rise to move the motion with som2 that it will receive the unani­ of the Members of this Coun­ of the proposed confidence mous support cil.

The d2fails for the E:x,hi:bition e :referred Mes'!.ag, ne12d only touch upon one or two of tJhe more impor1tant bers, may be aware, the University already ,a1wards scholarships ibasis Fund are set out in the to in the motion and I As hon.

Mem­ Colleg•2 s and these , who aichiev.e are a:ward!ed to candidates scholarship features.
on a comp2titive the higih- Fund.

58 57 W.I.

University 26 MAY, 1950.

Exhibition to to the fuat in year.

As thinly gift2d The!Y' that they entirely students, high standard out, th12 Univer­ Ir there is a and talented l iha.s pointed which are for the byi the student whos,e parents It will be administered a sufficient!
or it might be .a small of Scholarships; and it will be reserved, and we have we had on:e ,and s1end as many student,:, would never cover left ov,er in any one year, it will lbut cannot cannot afford are not aiwarded by on merit.

, but •exclusiv.,dy doe., contribute to the Fund and to the gener:al funds College, est standa:rd.

the Colonies This Government Scholarship of the University had our .share in 1949 ,and thr,ee this.

year.
year.

But, a:pa,r:t from the scholaTships exceptionally there is a need for som,e form of assistance to others who have indicated have r2ached to be able to make good use of a Uni­ versity educ,ati.on, can­ but in many cas:es to lack of funds.

I think not do so owinig most hon.

Members would agiree thb Colony only a relatively small number would.
be in a financial posi­ of students thems1elves, and that tion to mainta,in there are maniy1 a1ble and des,erving candi­ dates, who c,an make v2ry good us,e in­ deed of a University education, do so because, to maintain who are deserving amount of that support depend upon what Mess,age.

by the Unive:rsity of coar.s2, on�y for students from British Guiana.

Since its purpose is to assist e to spread the needy students it ls desir.a!bl as butter we can.

It is propos2d.
It is propos2d.

to award a main­ tenance grant to needy students.

The all the fei2s exhi1bition pay,able and the amount of the mainten:...nce grant will d'°pend upon the a!bility of the �tudent contribut 2·xhi,bitions a!Ward a large number of exhibitiom c·an contribute students sulbstantial amount, number to students, !Whose parents can contdbute v12;ry little.

balance be carrried over to the following the Principa sity cannot pe:rform its proper functions.
and the other Gov­ and this Government buting to it ar,e not going ernments to get proper valu12 for their su!bstantial capital �an get to the University.

stances, -$6,000 or his pa.rents e. Thell'e is no fixed value and we might be able to tb a their parents them.

It is these stud2nts olf our support.

T'he unless their students In the circum­ n propos.ed .small.
I think the contriibutio a year-is r21atively That is a relatively but I agree that in nc� -and the n Committee w h i c h Members of this Council As hon.

Members and two other of the sta'ff in carefully ship Selectio includes and tihey have recomm2nded, gard to our other scholarshi·p commit­ ments, and p,articularly taken this year to award anotheT that t!he amount to fOT girls, Scholar3hip, 'be contributed to this, E,x:hi'biti on Fund should be $6,000.
modest contribution, ciir:cu;msta our pre3en,t cir­ F·inancial Secretar,y explained these as to Melffifber-s, in Finance Com­ cumstanc mittee, cannot afford more.

yesterday--we It is to be hoped that at a later date we might be able to afford more, particularly as the scope of the University will increase jects.

These subjects the University sinC'e Faculties include and Medicine.

Science us, as mentioned about the urgency.


a.re aw.all'e, members of the 1'2-aching F·aculty of the Univers1ity weTe .recently this Colony in connection tion of candidates that there we:re at le,ast who could not be arward'..:d but who had reached to justify their 'being propos-ed agr-et2s.

be po:s1ble mediately.

thing more I need to say.


itself in regard to the number of sub­ have been added to began and they now Science in Arts, Natural The subject of Natural is one of particular importance one ,of· these If this Council it would propos·al with th12 selec­ and we were informed exhibitions.
to Government's im­ to make awards almost I do not think there is any­ a sufficient aiwairded scholarships standard This matter has been very The FJNAiNCIAiL like to say, finally, contributions by the Scholar­ to the decision four candidates in the Message.

TR1EA1SURER s.econdt2d.

Mr. Sherlock considered we can afford.

must, of course, SECR1ETA.JRY & I s:hould one word having re1- Guiana contrii to I think hon.

Members will ag,ree that this is a des,ervirng 'from public funds.
The ,adminis th2' Fund is destri:bed of in detail in the tration object for contribution There are no limi­ s of a young man Dr. NlIOHOLSON: to the poss1ibilitie tations or woman with a University There i3 a great need of capab1'2· to fill the various.

and a limited form of education J.·oles of Government, such as.

education.

officeirs 59 W.I.

University LEGISLATIVE Fund.

60 COUNCIL.

Exhibition in the standard say.

It more a stu­ number of mern or and capable of the B.A.

rsity students.
rsity students.

This fact that there will of a B.A.

is not quite happy over this aspect-that in spite of the excellent availa1bl'2 at the University teaching up to the standard ho1r101uirs de/gree, that degre.e would be denied the UniV'2.

gave rise to the criticism be a difference d2gree from the Wes.t Indian University and one from London University, seems that ther,e is.

very little dent would' h,-ve to do in order to get tlf2 of the B.A.

B.A.
B.A.

honou.rs degree instead degre12, and I think we must get general an ans1weT to this ques:tion.

College we find there is a diff!

man who· is an Honoursiman man who holds.

the ordinary it does make a great differenc'2·.

There­ fore we in -�hi3 Colony mus.t have a de­ claration as to what is their policy now, or in the immediate future, of their degriees.

Commission 2rent scale for the from the We.

:;t Indies University as to the standard in the Salari•2s At Queen's as against the degree.
So Report to enable is iniadequa a great deal.

of the West I.ndies nature of the motion-to ·ti2 to meet I feel, there­ in this Colony it It would act as of other young us divi­ i.:; acquired locally the needs of Gov·e:rnment.

fore, that hon.

Memlb12rs should welcome the enterprising send our young men and women to the Unive;i.·sity Officers not only them to b12come capa(ble in Government ente'I'­ but in industrial prises and other walks or life.
I feel that if we' we'I'!2 to have a few young wom·en degrees with Unive-r.oity would mean a leaven to the int211igence women and it would surely !bring dends.

I think if we have, for example, one or two such women in our Education Departm·2nt and connected education better results g2t for the large amount we are spend·ing on educatio.n.

tion should not be confined do.

There are numerous youn:g men and women who ar·2 capa1ble--'who -but who have not got the means to go fo.rtward to a University.
therefore, our power to aid tho3!2 who ar.e capable of obtaining sufficient I am supporting the motion and I am commending in this Council.

we would obtain far than we have been able to And what is more, educa­ to m:Y colleagues do everything especially, to the-well-to­ with primacy that lies.

within it strognly We should, a:re brilliant Then come!S anothe!r question.

I se:2 number of facul­ about as strong whe­ as a facult1y.

i3 entitled Mr. DEBLDI!N: fund\5 to go forward.


1but state emplh,atically to .this motion.

I regard this put before the Council as there are to be a limited ties.

The on!2 I am most concerned I am going to a3k is.


the medical and I rwould like to see His M,aje3ty's giv!2 not merely a statement Government which may give rise to doubt as to the I hope that what I true position have to s.ay would not be Tegarded as any­ ther a student rwho has qualified thing els:e 1but h2althy criticism and, at to medico at th'2· University any rate, would not be .regarded pra1ctis.e in His Majei.
:;ty' anyiwhere s king­ opposition: dom, either in the United Kingdom or proposition s.ome other Commoniwealth country.

for the W2st meaning further support an important It is true that the Indian Univeirsity.

question fo'I' the specific Fund will be utilised asked to subscribe, pose of financing exhibitions ibut, at t'he substantially �am'.2· time, it wourd help to buttress W·est Indies University, we expect the best expe1nditure of the University.
That fact and we exipect that the West Indies Uni­ but I have some very we cannot escape, versity to aS!k in the cours!2-of important ed to be-a univeTsity my remarks.

and they be:gin with this: Is that We.

:;t Indian student� the Wes;t Indian University offering the any way be regarded ?

hig,he,3t training attainments I hav·2 been made .to understand that an inf.e'I'ior to thme of any other University.

at the, honour,3 degree cannot be o'btaiined Pr01bably West Indian University•.
I was made more West Indies University aware of this faet during my recent visit sity in the United Kingdom, to Baribados and in th2 cour,s.

visit to that countr,y with all its.

traditions sation: and things we have studied leas.t educatio would live up to what it is expect­ second to none-so should not in by re:ason are very as they are doing, to the with a group, of men including at Barbados two honours, graduates.

of money.
of money.

If these Colonies and they subscribe than to a Univer­ but t'he mere n in itself.

When a student It is it does go to the at that University in the way of academic of their as being it would be cheapeir falct because e of conver­ questions provides to go to the pur­ the an Fund.

62 61 W.I.

University 26 MAY, 1950.

Exhibition to if op­ he pays.


is not before u:, a:;pect, are go•ing standard purpo'se, and s.o Whilst s,aying a particular to thos.e who have or takes up any type There is .another feel, b not what one can in the United Kingdom.

it and to which it can attached education which, is .

.able to s-tand I ,am asking t'his de­ made available and that can only be done it poJition We must try as much as, we c1an to carry it all through, if our financial in the future.
Therefore Council proposition commit its.elf do year after year, as the tendency to reduce but to increase.

to pa1y1 very high regard to every which comes 'before to something goes to a univer,3ity in the United Kingdom, of training more to go there but apa.rt from a little what he goes therre to study he gets that which has a certain it and more of a general I res1pectfully get by going to the West Indies University.
Therefore :f1or that extra benefit the stu­ Guiana will be tempteld dent from British to .select the United Kingdom first, portunities are available Universities, We.st Indies University it stands for more cle.arl how its degrees fy there in the various facultie:3 to stand in relation qualified fa entry into the there.
I feel then that the what mu:;t declare !Y' fhan it has done, and those mein who quali­ s will be having a full pro­ course and how many years they one w'hi ch and that 'Dhis may as a small amount, but we all this, may I be per­ mitted to say that I have a very high re­ If I may s.ay so, I am gard for Education.

very much at heart an educ.atio-nis •t but I like to s_ee .fi.rst things come first.
r' would in this Colo-ny like to see our education veloped and more facilities in this Colony be­ for our awn education ferw who fore we think of a privileged ma1y1 take up a large quantity of our and aspect, money.

It is, an important when one looks at the proposal still I doubt horw far these Exhibitions will go.

I do not know whether these exhilbitio.ner fessional will ·be there.

I see the Me.

:,sage b silent on that-how many years their exhibition will last .and to what height they will attain.
the I see one Member spoke aibout need of our boys to be better equipped for i'he Civil Service.

I am of the opinion that Queen's College would, if provided with a properly equipped laboratory, to this Colony men with sterling them for any :fitting tional qualification pos.t in this Coloruy-.

Then we would need or some-.

only to go outside for a specialist thing to be of great advantage to this Colony.

As an example, moment we would like to s.ee our engin­ eers more qualified our districts.
Who are merely mechanical ing called upon to do things which require a knowledge .such a man to Holland to study ir.rigatio a�d drainage p,roblem3.

him and when he comes back he will be asset to the Colony.

To my mind that an _ nearby that they lend will be of greater advantage because very much to illiteracy Colony than merely sending a man to a hardly attend school at such Un.ivers.ity to get a deg,ree and an educa­ away from their homes.

I have ti0n which can be got at Queen's Col- lege.


goes to the motion very closely, is we are asked to give $6,0-00.

be regarded know hOlw amounts are increased if not .sufficient for this.

amount may be increased in the future.

Whatever it is, however, it is going to lbe tied to our annual ex­ The ques.tion I would like to penditure.

ask, therefore, and it is something we must pay attention to when propos.als as.
thi-s .come up, is "Are we ju:;tifoied to spend this arrnount of mone,y when at mome.nt we have not fully equip­ this very so far as Queen's College is ped ourselves ,and we !have not fully equipped corncerned so far a.3 prima.r!Y' ourselves are schools ?"
There is no doubt whatever conlcerned that within the near future we ihave ag,ain to meet up a tremendous rise in the Bud­ in this Colony-increase get for_ Eduicatio,n in equipment .and in the number of teach­ ers ,and head te:achers quired to take charge of new sc'hools also incre-a1Se in our .school This $6,000 will be very much needed for the esfablishment areas, so far from schools themselves fhe pupils.
distances had suffident expenditure fore we hav;e to try and conserve to assist our 10 year Development Send, of civil engineering.

n I am opposed in principl It goes against and aocommod;tion.

than those who are in In this· Colony we have men of new schools in and are where there are no schools is going to be high.

There­ in order Plan.

ion that our future give educa­ at the present such norw Spend $6,000 on engineers to $110,0-00 · proposal.

who will 'be re­ e to this my grain.


If we indic'.at to this be­ 63 W.I.

University LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Fund.

64 Exhibition I respectfu position.

into the programme We have for 1949 laid can get mQre accommodation for 500 pupils let us have that.

But that is if we can afford to do it and if what is proposed lly submit is really justifiable.
that this motion should stand down until we know our financial had the financial statement on the table today, and we have yet to go more fully· and our in the light of future financial position what we are going to discuss soon in our Plan.

I hope it 10-year Development will not be long delayed in so far as having that before this Council.

The estimates and it seems that another year will elapse before we get that.
I do trust and Development urge that the 10-year Plan should come before this Council within a matter of a month or two.

When we have gone into it and examined the position we will then be in a better position say whether we should tie this Colony to a commitment of $6,000 a year for these exhibitions.
are to be gone through again, to just and although was set up in I do sympathiz As a result of that Mr. FERREIRA: Nearly six or ten hue and cry years ago there was a terrific the West in this Colony and throughout It was felt Indies for higher education.

and, that there was need for a university I think, that was a perfectly reasonable feeling.

and largely helped by the Imperial , a university Government the West Indies.
I am indeed surprised today to hear the words of the last speaker, e with him when he mentions the need for educa­ tion among the lower groups.

But surely when the people of the Colony and the West Indies called for a university they must have been aware at the time that a university cannot be established and run merely on the fees of the students.
Mem­ and th� public must bers of this Council that it called for sacrifices have realized on the part of the people and government of the various it seems to me, to come forward now and decry the vote of $6,000.

stage either signify our intentio draw, if that meets with the approval or bear our full share of the the public,, and co-operate responsibility est.

If we are going to have a university in the West Indies it is going to cost us n to with­ of It is rather late, We must at this Colonies.
to the full­ money, and we may as well face I appeal to Members to put aside political views and to look at the wider issues.

we are going to have responsible opinion, for it.

If public to pay then we must be prepared facts.

Mr. FERNANDES: I am supporting circum­ This money, to enable them necessary that ability in ordinary even to develop that ability, this motion wholeheartedly.
as, ]•see it, is to be used to give those whom God has blessed with average ability an opportunjty though they may not have been · blessed with the finance to develop stances.

I would be very pleased if all motions coming from Government to spend the money of the taxpayers were of the young like this one for the benefit men and women of this Colony.

I am not going to say I am an educationist, even though I would like to see every facility given our young people to develop what­ ever talents they have.
There is one thing I always stand for, and that is to see that every person, the opportunity this case, as I see it, the parties will be those who were clever enough to which will obtain an exhibition give them not give but which will free education to maintain them the wherewithal selves whilst absorbing that education.

I do not think we can spend our money to better effect than in this way.
It is true that these votes have a peculiar getting but this is one case I will not be und�ly worried if the amount increases twofold or threefold.

is given every child, he or she deserves.

In to benefit higher, habit of them­ Dr. GONSALVES: I would like to of the Appeals were made to the known Foundation, say a few words in support of this motion.

Some years ago I knew of one medical school in the U.S.A. where they were con­ tending about the insufficiency endowments.
Carnegie-Rockefeller Board, for a as the General Education $2,000,000 That was given and that particular with the endowment it was able to secure highly paid Professors, hence because of changed conditions accordin advancement endowment the needs of better paid professors.

etc.

Fifteen years and g to present day methods and that that it was disclosed would not be enough to meet What college felt secure as endowment.

65 W.I.

University 26 MAY, 1950.

Exhibition Fund.


66 I want to say, as I have a little bit of is that I am afraid that until experience, we are able to set up through, hard sacrific e a certain ments for the West Indies University, of this Col­ even though the contribution would still ony is very high-$135,000-it be faced with extreme and major difficul­ ties.

amount of endow­ perhaps, a proposal of England.

That a scholarship of a Guianese young woman in Another point I want to make is this.
in Finance for the further About a year ago I supported Committee training one of the Colleges young woman had obtained of her from this Colony and from perusal work in England it was reported that she had done so well that when she had come to the end of her time it would be a very unwise step to allow her to discontinue Therefor her studies.

by the University to allow her to continue her scholarship for which she was very for further much apt.
It was granted and, I am glad to see, that young woman has been of the as one of the Lecturers appointed West Indies University e it was suggested to this Government studies .

of A or B Associa­ 'high school" g to the Faculty i3 any college at all.

It I am rather surprised W 2 must not believe that I would ¼ke to say that all Univer­ when th2y 'begin have their hq.rd­ sities ship.
No ne,w schools turn out men who do not, aC'cordin tion, come up to the standard and much prefer to have a C class college education.

Queen's College is not even iwhat we can call "a high to b2 found in standard to other places.

find that people seem to believe that Queen's Colbge is, the "be-all and end­ all" of everything.

ning of what we call a ,go,od, condary supporting am happy to observe bright young boy or .girl without any segregation iby only giving exhibitions to boys.

It must not be limited.


to d2velop move some of the feeling 'believe encoura1gem2nt are going to give our boys and girls a ibias, to look at things with proper perspective, !if we wish to re­ I the it can only be done through sound se­ For that reason I am I it 'is to be given to a It is only the begin­ oif education, this.

Colony, education.

If we wish and if we of frmtration, the motion wholeheart2dly.

I do believe the best investment support the motion.

what has been proposed is .


For that reason I this Mr. WIGHT': In supporting afford.

Codring­ It is amazing to in Barbados, no do�1bt may to among presumably Dmerara w.ill not th2m to make up what they can­ which is affiliated and b2cause fully w 211 it will be parent3 who of be very There­ is in the nature of motion I do so reeling in that it will assis.t justified are unable fully to pay the expenses their child who may otherwis2 ca1pable of being fully educated.
fore this, exhibition assisting not them:;elves me and I am unaware of it that, according to the hon.

Member for Eastern honours degrees (Mr. Debidin), at the W.2st Indies Univer­ be obtaina:ble sity.

His reference Barbados.

One can only .glean from wha1t he has said that the conversation took plac2 in Bar1bad03 Baribadian:;.
Maybe the only conclusion that I can come to is that there is at the moment a college ton College University, of the West Indies University has to cease certain particularl up and discussed Council by an that that matter can be adjusted to the Unversity of Durham in a'Pproach e of the conjunction with th2 assi3tanc Vice-Chancellor don and others.
which, I think, those gentlemen have 'be 2n d\scussing ignorance That is no c·ause being taken up immediately that th2 honours tainalble w,hen it is in full swing is.

a matter I can­ not for the moment think any deci3ion could have been arriv 2d at by the Council at its last meeting.

in total aibysmal of what they were talking about.

that i3 .
that i3 .

To say will not be o·b­ iof the University· of Lon­ That i.:; the only matter to Durham o'£ the existence at the West Indies University meeting and it has been decided y in the Arts.

That was brought at the las.t Univ2rsity of its curriculum, for alarm because that college degree:; might Mr. LEE': I desire to support this and ihave had the privfibge motion.

Tho.oe of u.s who have been to to go Jamaica can sub­ to the West Indies University stantiate i3 doing.
The differen t stud2nts from the West Indian Islands.

meeting there and being �n one class group and spending their univ 2rsity the good work the University life together, I feel sure 67 Exhibition Fund.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Gratuity to Forest Ranger.

68 British I des�Te also to let hon.

Mem­ Guiana i'.f rwe ean, hope so, at all times.

there to tak2 their it would benefit and I do sincerely afford to send students deigrees.
ben know that w2 are in great need for doctors, and if same of the.3e would meet that need, I feel sure that this Colony would ben2fit.

With these few words.

I would like to supP'ort motion.


the scholarships The OOLONI1AL S1ECRETAIRY: I am to any general afraid I did not anticipate attack on the University College, and so I am not in a position to quote chapter and verse regarding the degrees which it is proposed my impression offer, but it is certainly as soon that it will offer honour.s degre2s stand­ as it can build UJ?

to the necessary to the parent university, ard acceptable y. I am sur 2 that is the London Universit intention.
overnight bound to take some time to be established.

Certainly perly unless it gets the support ish Caribbean territories.

would be very shortsighted at this stage support of waiting until it becomes, someone else, developed standard.

offer honours degrees eventually.

of the Brit­ So I think it to hold back with the intention You cannot create a university by waving a wand, and it is it can never be established I am sure it does intend to to the necessary through pro­ for about six students.
about of .this The intention The hon.

Member said something few" which I do not scheme the questiion of a privi­ funds for those of their own.

the "privileged quite foll01w.


b to counteract leged fow iby pr:oviding who do not hav:2 resources This $6,000·, it is, sugg1e3ted, should pro.­ viide exhibitions Some may need more money and some • less, but it should provide and if the Colony's, finances, reach such a parlous point Jl_nd ,we cannot afford to go on with it we would then have to stop contributing thing we are absolutely I hope myself, eventually bers which the Fund would provide however, be able to increase to the Fund.
It is not some­ for.

bound to forever.

that we should the num­ for slix s.tud2nt,s, that Th2 hon.

Member also suggested the motlion might stand down.

I am glad I think that this has not found support.

it would be a great pity, particularly when, as I have explained there are already remarks, four students s and who might be awarded exhibition who could then take up residence at the University in my opening in October this year.

College Mr. DEBIDIN: May I ask the hon.


the a qu2stion Colonial Secretary you, sir?

What period are these ex­ to last?

hibitions through.

The hon.

Member for E'astern Dem­ reforred to the fact po�nt he mentioned.

erara (iMr.

Debidin) to go.

to the that students.

;might p:ref2r United Kingdom where they can get the and there was one par­ ·higher degrees, He said it ticular more.
1 think h2 would cost very little the fact must have overlooked College pays all that the University of all students - travellin� expenses or un­ exhiibitioners scholarship holders., de.rg.raduates-from colony their ori.Jginal to the Univers/ity s:tantial think we all r2aliz,e mand3 exis,ting condary education, but I do not think for ignoring that is a valid re:ason higher I think it is mos.t education important support, bution no1t to the University students, theitns.elves.
there are great de­ and se­ 1both in p,rimary altogther.

that this· University and w2 should make this contrti.­ cons:idetr'atiolll in thes!e1 days.

I , and that is.

a very suib­ 1 should have but to the may take a course in medicine The natural It would depend course.

I am The COLONIIAL SECRETARY: sorry.

The hon.

Member did re.fer to that but I forgot to answer him.

It is not pos ... sible to answer definitely, on the period of the particular A student which may take him six years.
science It depends on what course is taken.

The will be for the period of the exhibitlion cours2.

If circumstances change and more money is needed the Fund would be there to pro- increase.

course may be only three years.

It will be 'Subject to revie,w.

.

vide for any justifiable Motion put, and carried unanimously.
GRATUITY TO RETIRED FOREST RANGER The F.IiNAiNIOIA1L SiEOREYIIARY & I beg to move the motion in m� name at .item 2 on the TJ�;E;ASUR.i.ER: standing Order P,ap,er , whk:h reads: 1'That, with r.2.ference cellency the Gorv:elrnor's Message No.

2 of the 26th of April, 1950, this Council to His, Ex-· ' 69.Gratuity to Retired 26 MAY, 1950.

Forest Ranger.
Forest Ranger.

70 arpprove1s of an e,x gratia payment o,fi $864 to Mr. H. J. Weir, a Grade Ill on me­ Forest Rang2r who has, retired dical grounds with effect from the ls1t 1949."

of Dece:mlber, no fewer that three in the Lands 'The motion seeks thus Council's ap­ service.
lby way of a gra­ through no fault t from 19,23 to 19311 not continuous and Ranger from the 18th 194,1 to the 31Gt orr May, 1943. on This employee, as has given 20 proval o'f the p,ayrrnent, to an em'ploy 2e af the Gove,rnment, tuity, Mr. H. J. Weir, who has had to retire· aiccount of illness.

Message No.

2 indicates, years' s2rvice to the Government but, It unfortunately, has been interrupted times.

H2 was a boathand and Mines Departmen when he was retrenched of his own.
He was re-employed in th2 same capacity from 1933 to 1934, and again as a boathand of Julry:, Finally 1948 to 1949.

Under th2 existing benefits can gulations only ibe awarded after a period of at least 7 years' his out-door opportunity disease and which led to his retirement , and having regard to the circumstances it is, that he should be award2d as a proposed the same amount wihich would gratuity have been payable to him had the whole of his service b2en continuous.
The amount is $864, and I commend the motion to the Council.

continuous service from whilch he is now suff2ring he served as a Forest Ranger from superannuation , by e:xipo3ure, servlic2.

Through ihe certainly had an to contract the , Re.­ Several of them served of ,allowance.

seven years continuously before they were re1tr!enched.

In one or two instances ithey have been asked to send in particulars, but I do not kno.w if they have been given any considera of their services.
tion in respect A circular has been issued by Govern­ service ment 1�0 ,the effect that after seven years' a non-pensionabl continuous would be con­ ployee of Government The employees for <;J. gratuity.

sidered I have referred Secre­ and I think the hon the Financial to which I 'tary would know the circular refer.

to come within rthat circular, e em­ Mr. ROTH: We are discussing a to Mr. Weir, and if motion for a gratuity the hon.

Member wishes to refer to ex­ emp1oyees, ,of ,the.

D.D.T.
D.D.T.

service prop-er to that effect.

'the course would be to move a motion The PRESIDENT: :I!

think the hon.

I do not Member is correct.

Nominated ,object ,to the hon.

Member making brief but I cannot to other cas-es reference allow ,a full debate on .a matter that is not before ,the Council.

Member has made his point.

I think the hon.

The OOL0N1IAL SECRETARY se­ conded.

Mr. DEBIDIN: I, am not opposing of Government to draw to rthe fact of persions c-ommended.

I to the D.D.T.
I to the D.D.T.

campaign the motion but I may be permitted the atitention .
;that ther,e are large numbers who have served ,this Colony in a manner which we have .always refer particu1arly in which men have endangered by g,oing into rthe fields and suffering illness, and many 01ther -one thing I know that many of those men who worked in tha•t service have suffered ver'y badly with their eyes, and some of ,them have to wear spectacles behalf of some ,of ithem I applied to Government that ,they be given s,ome sort privations.

For their lives today.

On at.


I crave your in­ e of my friend1 the hon.

Nominated Mr. DEBIDIN: I was going to make one more poinit.

H seems to me that the pa,tiene, Member, 'has become very much less years.. Had he waited a within recenit minute or two, mor,e he would have seen .what I was driving dulgence is involved crea,ted.

Public Works, Department over 20 years,' qualification service for a gratuit "No."

I think he is deserving of seven years' continuous by just one month.
He has applied y but has been given the and a precedent There is an employee , Sir, because a grave principle is being in the but has lost the who has given service of a gratuity.

I do not want to oppose this motion, because we are If this.

motion I hope that when cases come up they will be sup­ I should, but in principle making fish of one and fowl of another.

I support similar ported to the same extent.


There are several people who have fallen short by of service but I think provision is being calcula, service should be made to in respect=of the num­ they have given.

So far case is concerned the ted on the basis in spite of the circular 71.Forest Ranger.

LEGISLATIVE about one year of the qualification seven y,ears' continuous some special give them a gratuity ber of years' as this particular gratuity of 20 years' s:ervice to which I hav,e referred.

quar.
quar.

:relling an opportunity particular tha1t when other cases come up this Coun­ cil and the Executive Council will not turn a deaf ear to their appeal, in the cas,e of the ex-employees of the Yellow Fever Service.

I am not about that.

I have not had to examine just what this to, but I hope is en:titled officer � COUNCIL.

Bills - First Reading.

72 wi.th.

Conditions one does1 they will be given Quite obviously, in the case which are laid particular consideration.
of super,annuation, ru1e•s down must be complied of service annua-tion is a nor'mal rule, and I ,think Members will ag,ree except in special approval wrong.

must he fulfilled benefit before super­ can be a.warded.

That of the Council, would be quite t to depart from those rules, rt,ha cases with the specific 1tion pl1l, and agreed to.
paI'lticularly HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1950 T.he ATTORNEY-GENERAL: I move the first reading of a Bill intituled: when he was re-empl:oyed Dr. SINGH: I rise •to support the m01tion: I happen to know ithe gentleman concerned and I .

:r,emember retrenched and subsequently in the Lands, .and Mines Department.

He was lost in the bush for three days whilst on duty and had to live on berries and to me and I was leaves.

able to1 assist him.

He was.


in a very weakened state and r, believe originated without food.

He was in an exhausted condition when he contracted culosis.

which was the incipient tuber­ pulmonary I fully support the mo1tion.

when he was lost in the bush He was.

br'ought his illness s.tage conded.

I wish to assure to non-pensionable Demerara (Mr. Debidin) who The FINANCIAL SECRETARY and TREASURE!R: I •only wish to comment on the r,emarks of the hon.

Member for Eas:tern ref erred to .a cir'cular.


the Council that the superannuation benefits, employees are awarded on precisely the terms and conditions laid down and approved by It is.

true that this, Council by resolution.

those terms a�d conditions are not pr•e­ scribed on the Fixed Esitablishment theless those conditions the natur·e ar·e not normally very special we are dealing, and in this special of ,the Council is.

the s.pecific approval sought.

I do not know of the cas·es: to which the hon.
Member has referred with regard to the Mosqui1to Control Depart­ ment, but I assume th;::tt if those oases deserve are held to be in of legal provisions, and they from except in cases, as the one w�th which case by Law as is the case with officers exceptional treatment, 1 but never­ departed sueh as this Or'dinance, "An Ordinance ,to amend the 1946, to enable 'the Council to waive loan Hous.ing Legis.lative charges made in oonnecti-on wi,th the W,ortmanville Housing Scheme."
The COLONIAL SECRETARY se­ Ques1tion put, and agreed t.o.

Bill read the first time.

GEORGETOWN IMPROVEMENT (FINANCE) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1950.

WORKS I move The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: the first reading of a Bill intirtuled: "An Ordinance to amend the Geor.g,etow:n Works (Fi­ nance) Ordinance, to payment by the Georgetown T1own .Council the cost of the seweria,ge the cost ,of the Wa,ter Works."

of its share of its liability for works .and for 1932, wi,th resoect Improvement The COLONIAL SECRE.TARY se­ conded.
Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read the first time.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (INCORPORATION) BILL, 1950 Mr. PETERS: I move the first.

reading of g. Bill intituled: te the .t.o incoroor,a of ,the Af.rican Met­ Church in British "An Ordinance Bo.ar·d of Trustees hodist Episcopal Guiana: to vest thereiin c2rtain erty; fior pu,nposes.

connected ,matters.

alf:ore,said."

Mr. DEBIDIN seconded.

Question Bill mad the first stime.

put, -and agreed to.


prop­ with the The Oouncil was then adjoruned until Friday, June 2, at 2 p.m.