, 1870-12-06

amount of 600, 900 dollars Of which the expen-
seS for the administration have taken 100000
dollars. It is true enough, that matters have
been a little less unfortunate last year, but there
is a prospect that it will progress to the worse,
and the Westindia Islands therefore make a re-
quest that we assume a part of the burden OF
the administration, namely the administration
here in Copenhagen. They desire, further, that
we shall take over the military burden, and a
part of the administration in the Islands them
selves but this latter the Government has not
believed that it could entertain, while it has
agreed to take over a part of the Administra-
ton here at home, and has also been of the OPT
Mon that the administrative expenses can be
considerably reduced, in such a manner that it
may be easier for the islands but of this there
can hardly exist doubt. Finally they wish. to
have a relief in the customs dues, but Govern
ment has not believed that it can meet the de-
sire of the island in this respect, at all events
not in the manner, in which it is demanded,
while they desire to have a lesser duty on the
articles, produced by the islands, than what is
paid by other countries when the articles are
delivered in the mother-country. 1t is namely
pointed out by the Westindia Islands that their
articles, their sugar, is less in quality than what
is imported from Great Britain, and that it is an
evident prejudice that the duties are the same.
The Government has not refused to have its
attention directed thereto, but, az already said,
it does not intend to reduce the rate of duties,
but it thinks that it can abolish the export duty
which is paid before the sugar is exported from
the islands themselves. This naturally causes
some limit in the revenues of the Islands; but,
as a compensation, Government offers the 25, 900
dollars, and, at the same time, to take over the
administration in Copenhagen. | am therefore
of opinion that this may somewhat satisfy them,
especially when we consider that the Ministry
of Finance offers a loan of $50, 900 Dollars. 1t
is complained of, that the sugar cultivation has
gone much aback in consequence of their being
a want of means to work it in the best manner,
and it is stated as an example, that in 1S64-G7
there was imported in Denmark from Great
Britain Is, 706r 241 lbs. Sugar, while during the
same period there was imported from the Islands
32,034,77 lbs. Sugar; consequently the import
from the Islands was then considerably above
the import from Great Britain but in the fol-
lowing three years, until 1870, the proportion
was in an inverse ratio, as Great Britain intro
duced much more than the islands, namely
3d. 6 lis lbs. to 90, 152,737 lbs. 1t must be
admitted that this is an unfortunate position for
the islands. 1t IS besides pointed out that while
the neighbouring Westindia Islands, namely
Barbados, deliver 1900 lbs, sugar t. 10000
q feet, the islands deliver only $500 lbs. and
this, it is considered, is a consequence, partly of
the duties, partly of deficient capital, owing to
so much being expended on the unfortunate ad-
ministration. It is to improve the sugar cult
walton that Government offers a loan, and it is
the opinion that the Islands will then be able,
at all events in some degree, to compete with
the surrounding islands, and that it will put
them on their legs again. When we take all
this into consideration, lit appears to me that
there is reason to be satisfied with the Govern
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