, 1873-01-01

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it can be confidently asserted that the ORR
ginal purpose and the object of Govern
ment are thus best served. But the pur-
pose Of the Regulations, and the object of
the Government, were undoubtedly to ELL
sure the production the largest possible
supply of labor and to guard at the same
time that continued Development of the
l%aboring population which it is the duty of
a liberal minded and progressive Govern
ment. to promote to the utmost of its abili-
ty. In both respects the Royal Govern
ment is convinced that an alteration Of
certain points in the existing Regulations
will effect improvement.
Having now for several months left un-
tried no means of acquiring a personal, in
dependent conception of the present ques.
ton, | do not feel myself justified in defer
ring any longer the introduction of a re-
form, whose completion the legislative
power In due time will be called upon
to achieve. ] have, therefore, the honor
of requesting that the Government Of st.
Or TX will invite the aforementioned
gentlemen to form q Commission, which,
after thorough consideration of the redtire-
ments OF the Governments purpose and
what the several concerned interests may
warrant, will forward to Government a pro
posal Of notifications, in the existing La
Dor Regu ations, as enacted by the Pro-
yisionaI Ordinance of goth January IS49.
the later Ordinances dated respectively
22nd February 1865 and oath August
1867, and by the Ordinance dated end
October 1862 concerning Immigration of
Laborers from foreign places to st Croix
and their treatment
act. Upper Judge, Counsellor Rosenstand,
as Chairman.
Judge, Chairman of the Colonial
Council, Counsellor Sarauw.
PoIicemaster, Counsellor Forsberg.
George Elliott Esqr.
f. Coulter Esqr.
r. Skeoch Esqr.
Revd. j.. G. Du Bots.
/ would suggest that the Government of
st Croix in directing this Commission to
assemble with the least possible delay put
it in possess on of a copy of the present
communication but it is not otherwise
my intention to lay before the commission
as a guidance any official statement, point
ing out or discussing one or another parti-
cular enactment of the Labor Regulations.
Sufficient light has been thrown on the
proposed task, and the mainpoints for dis
cussiOn have been sufficiently defined by
the constant attention the question has
received especially during the last years,
when several representative men have been
called on to give their opinion. I shall in
this respect refer to a Report, which, ac-
companied by a draft of amendments to the
Ordinance of Goth January 1849, was on
the 10Th July 1865 sent in by a Commits.
sion nominated by Governor Birch. After
adverting to the main principles in the ex-
listing Labor Regulations, viz y yearly
contracts and p legally stipulated wages
for a certain number Of working hours
the Commission, in a lucid resume, states
what would, eventually, become the lead.
ing points in a proposed Reform by saying:
"The objections which. .have been
raised from several quarters, are therefore
not directed against the system of yearly
contracts, but against the principle of
binding laborers and employers to a uni
form scale of wages without distinction of
the good or bad quality of the work done.
The arguments brought forward against
the existing SYSTEM, are principally the
supposed injustice of preventing the
stronger and harder working laborer from
enjoying the natural reward of his Capabi-