, 1875-06-26

practlCaDle, ana Inc GOVernlHeuC MEDICAL LIS
t%abliShment which was founded upon their
suggestions seems to be regarded as the great
est failure of all. Bat as the Government
would take the advice of inexperienced anna
teurs, and would not listen to practical and ex-
perienced counsel, such q result is not sur
prising. At present the planter bears all the
cost of the Establishment and derives no sat
~iSfaction from it. 1t is quite impossible for the
Secretary of State to overlook the complaints
of the Court of Policy, and the despatch of the
Governor, by which Ito Judge from His Elk
cellency's speech) they have been supple
mented. The attendance of the Government
doctors is not confined to the indentured coolies,
but the negroes and unindentured coolies derive
benefit from it as we'll, and why the general
population, working or idle, should have free
medical attendance at the expense of the plan
tiers, who have enough to do to carry on their
estates, il is difficult to see. AS the Depart
ment is one intended for the general benefit of
the population, the Government is bound to
pay the cost out of the public revenue, and the
planters will then be free to supplement the
services of the Department by any necessary
arrangements for the complete medical supervi-
sion of the working population on their estates.
The Colonial Office has celebrated her
Majesty's birthday by a very scanty list of
hoDours, which does not contain a single name
connected officially or otherwise with the West
Indies. The appointments to the Order OF 81.
Michael and St. George seem to be given
exclusively to Government officials upon the
mistaken assumption that no good services
rendered to a colony are worthy OF recognition
unless they proceed from an official who ls paid
by Government for those services. There are
many men who have worked hard IN respon'
sible positions without emolument, and SIM
l. - 1890 r u,ll;o 1utu who muob
better entitled to the decoration of the Order,
which was established expressly for tho recog-
milton of distinguished services to the Colo
MES, than two.thirds Of those whose names
arc already inscribed upon the roll. What, for
instance, are the distinguished services which
have entitled Sir Horny Holland to the y. M. u.
over the claims of men who have devoted their
time and labour and best intelligence to the
task of legislation in the Colonies, or to the
performance of responsible duties attached to
important but unpaid offices? Why should
an Assistant Under, Secretary of State, who
left his duties at the Colonial Office to go
into Parliament, have a better chance OF the
9. NJ. G.. than, say, a member OF the Deme-
rara or Trinidad Legislature : No one would
blame Sir Henry for the good things he has
obtained, or say q word against his enjoyment
of them, vet unofficial merit in the Colonies
might surely 10 LecoSnISOu q" V "o "AANA"A
merit at home.
The system of granting bounties on the
export of sugar has extended to America.
1t is calculated that under present circum-
stances the refner in New York enjoys q
premium of Al. los. to 81. per ton. Sugar,
analysing SO per cent, can be made to go
into the States under No. 10, paying a duty
of assoc. per lb. The refiner will thus on
a ton pay $56.25c. If he exports 50 per
cent which he certainly can do, that is
2,137.5O lbs, he receives 10 drawback 3.75c.
per h., equal to $6O.l3 per ton or a bonus of
S23.66 (subiect to a reduction OF one per cent?
on a ton Of sugar. These figures seem rather
startling. They are certainly open to dis.
cussion and criticism, but of the reality of the
bounty enjoyed by the American refner there
can be no doubt. It is true that the cost of
production, notably in respect Of labour, is
relatively high, and, as compared With Con-
tinental sugar, there is a long freight to be
paid before it reaches European markets.
But cargoes of American sugar. produced under
bounty, have arrived in The United Kingdom,
although it cannot be said that they have had
as yet much, if any, appreciable effect upon
the market. There is every likelihood of
course, that if continued, they will dePress the
market here. But at the same times the
demand for raw sugar for refining purposes
in the States may divert q quantity of the
produce of the colonies, which would, under
ordinary circumstances, come direct to the
United Kingdom, but which, under the special
condition of an increasing though artificial