, 1873-03-22

tuClO was DuG IlGll6 ulSCuTDduC6 Ill OL1cF
quarters, and the usines and their contri-
butary estates were entirely exempt from
injury. This fact suggests a question
worthy OF the consideration Of proprietors
IN other Colonies, where labour is INSULT
cjenf, and where the malignity of indivi-
dual labourers is apt to indulge in incen-
diarism, yiz-whether the admission of the
Iabourers to a certain share Of profits ION
a system similar to that in operation in
some OF the English iron foundries) would
not save expense both in superintendent
and insurance, and thus conduce to the be-
net1t OF both employers and employed.
'60-But apart from its incidental ad-
vantage, there can be little doubt that the
Martinique system might be proftably
adopted in st, Lucia. There are several
Localities where the cane cultivation is al
ready sufficient to support an usine, and if,
as Martinique experience indicates, a coast
carriage OF eight OF ten miles does not pre-
vent profit both to grower and manufac-
turer, there is no quarter of the island
where one might not be established with
out advantage.
'6l-Besides the regular Sugar estates,
there is, owning to the cheapneSs of land, a
large number of small plots in the occupa-
ton OF negro neutrality-suspicious., who
show their preference for cane cultivation
when there is the slightest opportunity for
induIging in it. When sufficiently near
to an estate, they deliver their canes to the
proprietor, consenting, in consideration of
their manufacture, to surrender half the
Sugar produced, and all the molasses-an
arrangement which gives rise, as may be
supposed, to continual MISUNDERSTANDING.
Many others are content with their own
manufacture, carried on with wooden
hand-mlIIs (mOre rarely, cattle-mills) NOV
ing boiling kettles, and other rude contri-
vances. All these would inevitably seize
the opportunity, which would be offered by
an uSine, of selling their canes by weight
and many others, whose poverty now pre-
cludes them from cane growing, would
probably abandon it for the raising of pro-
visions.
'G2-Moreover, the requisite capital
could undoubtedly be obtained by co ope-
ration. But here is the chief difficulty.
Whenever the question has been hitherto
mooted, there has been disclosed on the
part of some whose assistance was neces-
sary, not only an extreme reluctance to
abandon long established habits, but n no.
ton that the new system would involve a
certain loss of their independence and po-
sitiOn. Uniting at present the functions
of planter and manufacturer, and to a GER
tain extent those of merchant also, they are
unwilling to adopt an innovation which
involves their necessary confinement to one
character. If, however, a single instance
of the success of the new system could be
brought Immediately uuder their eyes, it
is sprobable that this reluctance would
be overcome. There is, I ana glad to say,
reason to hope that such an instance will
not be long forthcoming.
'63-But failing changes involving out
lay of capital, there is an inexpensive i'm
provement capable of general adoption,
which would render ever the poorest plan
ter comparatively secure.
64-At present the Sugar Of this Co.
lony, to the amount of over 100000 cwt
of the $4,000 exported, is unfit for imme-
diate consumption, aud is of that quality
that necessitates the occupation of the re-
finer. Some soils will always probably
produce a better Sugar than Others. But
it is yet a fact, not merely theoretical, but
being continually demonstrated elsewhere
in practice, that an edible Sugar can be
produced from any land where Canes grow