, 1874-06-20

We are also dependent on the means which the
Ordinance recently passed gives a warrant to
use, viz a loan for the community, and with
regard to this latter point every Member
knows as we'll as himself, that there is no real
certainty of the Government obtaining it. But
we must hope the difficulty will be overcome.
There could be no necessity for him to enlarge
on this matter, which interests every body, not
only the planter but every inhabitant it is
nothing less than the means for feeding the
labourers and paying their wages.
2nd Member for Frederiksted (Fa6er) would
beg to ask His Excellency if it is the intention
tbist il to depart from the rule only to take
security in the Sugars, but to take also in the
Rum and Molasses produced on the Estates
It had been rumoured that such was the in
%tention if so, it would be placing the planters
in a very difficult position. 1t is all very we'll
when the Government gives advances SO far as
to give means to the planters to pay and feed
labourers; but it must be remembered that
planters have other expenses besides, to meet
which the Rum and MolasseS must be disposed
of. Already now we hear planters say, that
they are not allowed to sell their rum and mo-
lasses.
The President would not state what may or
can be done before the time, comes, and it will
be a long time before the crop viii be at dis
pOsal. Under ordinary circumstances there
would be no departure from the old rule,
according to which only the Sugars have been
considered ~mOrtgaged for the advances but
this year the circumstances are so exceptional
that a great part of the produce must be turned
into molasSes, the cause of which is explained
to be this, that the liquor is so very bad, owing
to the poor state of the canes, that very little
aou1J h., ,oo1o into Sr~ov bn+ +bo .o,wI. o,b
stance turned into molaSses; while the COM
p~arative small portion Of rum made, is stated
to be owing to the want of water. Under
such extraordinary circumstances every rule
almost falls to the ground. But on the other
hand the Administration could not quietly look
on and allow all the produce to go that way.
Therefore he had issued a circular to all the
bureau debtors requesting a statement of how
much has been made on the respective proper
ty in Sugar, Rum and Molasses several
planters had called on him and explained the
desperate nature of the circumstances, where
on estates accustomed to give hundreds Of
hogsheads of Sugar, they now only give 80.
But still he must admit it would be an unsound
policy for the Government to take all the pro-
duce, we all know, that the means advanced
from the Treasury do not suffice for the whole
supply Of the Estate, although there are in
stances where planters have carried on their
Estates without any other assistance than that
for meal and wages. However, we are begin
ming the year with much more favourable pros
poets than the last; we may hope for a sue.
cessful issue. But it is the duty Of the Presi-
dency to see that the thing is not abused
neither on one side or the other.
2nd Member for Frederiksted (Fa5er) had not
had any intention to blame the Government for
the action in that respect, if the Government has
a right to all the produce. But he thought it
was but right to bring in all such remarks and
nave them decided at once.
The Chairman observed that according to
the Law on bureau, not only the Sugars but
the whole crop is m~ortgaged, and unless the
bureau document limits the Governments right
to the Sugar alone, the Government caa make
use of it's right to the Rum and Molasses. It
has for however many years been the practice
not to extend the bureau mortgage to more
than the Sugars.
After some more remarks from the 5th
Crownmember (Jurs) and the President about
the election of members to assist the Presiden-
cy in granting of bureau-loans and in the con-
troll thereof, the Chairman closed the lst dis
%cussion, and the Draft passed to End Discus
sion.
At the request of the President the Chairman
put to vote, if the Draft of Additional Grant
should go to the 2nd Discussion in this Meet
fr~ IL Xxi H. No,oo;l onouA .