, 1870-12-16
5 &. liz S.

over properties which it was out of its power to
carry on, and which it therefore has been oblig-
ed to let, and often only found lesseeS thereof
among its official class, among men who thereby
have been forced into private enterprises which
have acted disturbingly upon their official func-
tions, and made them p~artizanS in many cases
where they ought to have been the councillors of
the Government and the directors of the popula-
ton. If wehave even become wise from the expe-
rience gained, and would guard against repeti-
ton of the errors which have been committed in
that direction, | nevertheless very much fear
shat an amount as those 250,O 900 Westindia
Dollars, will be very far from yielding any affec-
tive aid in the problems which must be made,
If we will endeavOur in earnest to advance the
cultivation of sugar in St. Croix. 1t appears
to me, according to the Judgment which one
can form of the value of the properties there,
that an amount such as this one, is eyaneSceut-
ly small, and is insufficient to solve that pro
blem for which it is desired TO appropriate it.
1t appears to me to be far better, and of more
use to the Island, if the, relations for the rest
exist, if we endeayoured to assist forward that
form of private activity which will most easily
and surely provide the necessary capital and
if we, from this place, endeavoured to support
such enterprises which originated in a spirit Of
private undertaking, and which aimed at RENE
dying the deficiencies which the state of credit
exhibits. 1t is always very difficult for 3 per
son who has not himself been in such a country,
the affairs of which are so extraordinarily differ
ent from our own, to have a certain and based
idea of how far institutions, which with us in
the mother-country have operated benefcially
and usetuIly, can be introduced there or if cir
cumstances do not exist, which can make their
appliance impossible; but it is, however, not an
entirely improbable matter, that the state of
credit would in an incompatible manner be as
sisted by the establishment of such creditaSso-
Citations which here at home have played so
great a part, and contributed their essential Dor
ton towards the great advancement of agricul-
ture during the last twenty years and that
those Instructions which might place them
selves in the way of the establishment Of such
institutions could be removed, if Government
gave its assistance thereto, for instance, by one
or other fund which could serve as a temporary
guarantee to the holders of obligations where
by the very great advantage would also be
gained, that the capital, which would come in
question, would become much greater and much
more considerable, and that on the other hand
Government would not appear as especial len
der to a single estate, but would come to give
Its aid to the whole of the landed properties in
the island. | mention this with all possible re-
SerVatlon,-as we certainly upon the whole can
only speak OF these things, because | am una
bic to decide, if such institutions can actually
be introduced with any utility but [ mention
1t as an Instance to show in which direction my
ideas go, when l opine that there are other
roads that can be struck in upon, which could
be of advantage to the parties concerned. 1t is
correctly pointed out by the last honorable
speaker, that there is an aid which might be
given to the colony of St. Croix, and which
would be much more valuable than any other