, 1875-12-29

J been swallowed up, and many were they whose
<anly prospect was in the coming crog.. Many
planters have been living here of late solely
by help of the Bureau Institution, and in the
face Of recent events there is, very naturally,
8 strong feeling of anxiety it has been said,
that it WILDE impossible in future to continue
the system of bureau advances from public
funds, since it is not likely the Statetreasury
will continue to lend the Colonial Treasury
money to meet such advances. He could un-
derstand that if the Central Factory scheme
were given up, the Home Government would
not be willing to continue lending mo.
ney to Estates since they look upon that
scheme as the only thing suited to procure a
permanent remedy for the evil. Some, how
ever, do not 60 quite so far and think that the
Island may live on without Central Factories
while most agree in the view taken by His Elk
cellency in this respect. But, anyhow, the
Home Government will not act on such individu-
al impressions, but on the we'll considered
general interests Of the Island, and the Home
Government might, on such considerations, be
unprepared to assist, if there should be no
prospects of a Central Factory. Therefore too
it is 50 important that the Home Government
should not have the impression as though the
planters here are not willing to join it. If the
undertaking should fail, it would be due to bad
circumstances, over which we have no control.
i HOUl0 uOpCJ hOW6EeII IuhG III ull1CuAIi65 VIA
be overcome, and that the Home Government
will be willing, as hitherto, to assist, SO that
she Island may be kept agoing until We succeed
with the Central Factory. He had no power
to make himself the exponent Of the ideas cir
culating on this matter in the community, but
great anxiety is certainly prevailing among the
planters as to whether they may still entertain
hopes of being enabled to carry on their bust
ness in case the coming crop should fail to give
sufficient returns to cover the ex expenses Of the
Estates. He would only here beg to touch
on some Of the ideas that have been expressed
First, there was the old plan which failed
when in 1870 it was tried, namely the plan of
the Statetreasury IS furnishing a sum Of money 30
place planters on easier terms, so that they
may obtain loans at 3 or 4o interest to pay
OF their 1OoI 0 debts, which would certainly be
a great help. But, as already stated, that
scheme has failed once, and at the present
stage he, the Speaker, dared not make himself
the advocate of it. Another idea was to obtain
a guarantee that the liberal assistance hitherto
obtained from the Home Government towards
Estates of late years be continued. Now, be
would not advise the continuance of such as
distance for any pr0traoted term, especially if
we had no other hope than the one from heaven.
But there is no special knowledge required to
see that there will be a general crash in the
Island, il, while we are still in expectation of
future reforms, we were to be without the
support, which alone can help US to bide time
until the Improvements can be achieved. There
are planters who might still be in a position
to stand on their own feet, but the number is
becoming more and more limited in fact there
are now but very few planters who are in a
position at this present moment to carry on the
cultivation of their Estates from the surplus
returns of preceding crops, but mostly all are
dependent on the coming crop. When this is
80, and If, as to all appearances will be the
case, The coming crop fails even in bringing
returns tomeet the current expenses, it is easy to
see what the result will be if no assistance from
the Public be given. The crash must come
and will be even worse than we can see. 1t will
then have gone so far, that there will then be
no question Of individual ruin, but of that Of
the whole Island. Whole tracts of land may
come into a state of non-cultivatiou, and if we
arrive at such a calamity, how would the Deal
ing Courts be able to administrate the Estates
more shan private individuals could We have
now an Instance where the Dealing Court will be
unable to procure the necessary funds to carry
on an Estate that was among the best of the
island, although the advances were to be prior
IN right to the undergraduates. And when
large Numbers OF Estates are abandoned, az
they IN that way must be, not even the first
priority mortgageholders will obtain payment
OF their claims there would, in fact, be no
one to buy if capital could be imported like
immigrants for the Estates, that would be an