, 1874-12-05

manner as a Member of the Council. To illus
trate this point further, he would take an in
stance let us suppose that one Governor
thinks himself capable and able to carry out
d particular matter and therefore promises to
do it still, it must be acknowledged that bis
successor may not be able to do it; he might
perhaps even not possess the same ideas or the
same provisions as bis predecessor, and cannot
be bound by such entirely personal promises.
10 this sense he had said, that he did not consider
the Government in this case bound by promises
Of any kind be had explained, that the present
Government was even unaware of the expecta-
tions that had been created in that direction,
and he had without delay called the attention
of the Superior Authority of st. Crolx to TINS
as soon as he had become aware Of the fact, that
expectations, based on former Governors per
sonal promises were entertained in the OOun-
Gil.
LIST Member for Frederiksted (Sa1auV)
thanked His Excellency.
The Chairman would, as he might be In
duced to take part in the discussions on the
present Draft of Ordinance, prefer at once
to take his seat in the hall. He consequently
called ON the Vice Chairman to take the chair.
LIST Member for Frederiksted's Country Dis
trict (F2eming) felt that the Community has
every reason to be thankful to His Excellenoy
for the trouble and pains he had taken to
endeavour to bring about retrenchments and
reduction of our public expenses. In the III
troductory comments on this Draft His Excel
lency entered on the different branches of the
public service to shew where retrenchments
might be effected, and where not. And the
Speaker agreed with His Excellency to a very
great extent. He for one would never
agree to a reduction of the salaries to officials;
for We have all reason to be grateful for the good
set of officials we have with reduced salaries,
it might not be easy or possible to obtain as
good officials. But then, reductions Of the ez-
penses might be effected by uniting or combln-
ing several Offices or by withdrawal OF super
fuous posts, for instance, and especially, under
the Customhouse, where those in service have
not sufficient business to occupy their lme;
as regards other branches, be could not enter
upon them now, but some changes might doubt
Iessly be achieved there too. With regard to
the Military question, his long residence in the
Island and his experience would seem to war
rant his having an opinion on that matter.
And he must then at once state that he cannot
recommend this Draft he could not advise
to remove the military station from Kings Hill.
He had very great confidence in the influence
of the Military force in that valuable part OF the
Island surrounding the Station in that quar-
ter some of the best Estates of the Island are
situated, and from thence comes a great portion
of the Islands export, The Speaker has
been living many years in that quarter and he
has had frequent occasions to Judge Of the
good effects of the military in maintaining
peace and order among the labOurers and he
cited one particular instance where he per-
sOnally had experienced it. And therefore he
had the conviction that it would not be right
to remove the force stationed at Kingshill.
The Police will be inadequate to keep order
He was among those who set much price on
that Central Police Station, where everything
is adjusted peacefully aud satisfactorily but
he had serious doubts if that would continue
TO be so when the military force is removed
There is another instance where the Military
is of great use, namely at fires; they are al
ways the first to notice fires and to give The
alarm, and the first to be on the spot. The
Police force is naturally very small, and at
fires it would be utterly inadequate to secure
order and prevent disturbances and thefts, SO
rife at fires. He would suggest to His Excel
iency if, under such circumstances, it would
8 not be more advisable even, if possible, to
increase the force stationed at Kingshill, by
locating the whole garrison there, rather than
removing what is there. The number of men
proposed in the Draft would seem sufficient
The Speaker said he had very great confidence
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