, 1875-09-29

conviction that the number of mldwlves IS zoo
small for the requirements, and if, as we all
hope, the circumstances of the island improve,
1t might not be impracticable to increase the
number.
3rd Member for Christiansted (HanSon) had
not made the observation because he was OPP
posed to the grant; but he had thought that 1t
might not have been impossible for His
Excellency to devise some means whereby
the services of the person in question might be
secured, as we undoubtedly have much use for
increased midwife attendance, especially in the
country and he was sorry that His Excellenoy
was unable to suggest any plan to that etect.
The President was perfectly alive to the
insuficiency of the present midwife attendance
in the Island, but there are at present no means
Of meeting the emergency further than here
proposed, viz by assisting a person willing to
qualify herself for the duties but to. obtain
further security for her remaining here ever
afterwards, was not possible the imposSlblllty
or at least the improbability of her finding
remunerative occupation on any of the other
Islands, except indeed st. Thomas, in which
latter case the Administration will possess the
means of protecting the interests Of this ISLAND,
affords son guarantee.
1st Member for Frederiksted [SaraNtOj;
There might be another way Of securing her
services, namely by at once appointing her;
an increase in the number Of midwives has
been wanted upwards of 10 years ago but
there is no use of dwelling on this now,
as there is no likelihood of its being done.
The President had already alluded to that
point, but as a matter dependent on the future
state of the Island
2nd Member for Frederiksted lFaberl enter
tanned no doubts that the Island will find use
for, the new midwife when she comes, and he
felt sure that the Council was obliged to the
Presidency for introducing this matter.
The Chairman before closing the discussions
pointed out that the amount of the Money Bill
remains u"naltered after the remarks from the Pre-
sident, as the clause concerning the repayment
Of the $50 is only contained. ir The Remarks to
the Bill. In putting the Grant to vote, it
would be understood that the Councils vote
was given without regard to the last clause m
the remarks, 50 that instead thereof, it is under
stood that the amount of $50 is only to I've
repaid in case Of, or when the party obtains
public appointment and he would take care
whom forwarding the bill, if adopted by the
Council, to make a note to that effect in behalf
of the Council.
The discussions were closed. The Draft Of
Additional Grant, with tine understanding as
abovestated, was put to vote and adopted unani-
mously with 9 votes.
2, Discussion on the Report from The Com
nittee to revise st. Croix Communal
Accounts for lS72-73. :
The Committees Report reads as follows
COMMITTEE REPORT.
The undersigned Committee, appointed by
the Colonial Council to make a general revision
of st. Croix Communal Accounts for the Finau-
cial Year 1872-73, begs leave to make the
following remarks.
From what has been stated on previous occa-
sions in the Council, we believe we may omit
commenting on excuses of expenditure beyond
the sums granted, where such excuses are
mere trifes.
With reference to. the Revenue-Item @. 4.
interest on capitals invested, where an amount
of G. $65 has been collected below what was
calculated in interest on the capital belonging
to the Schoolfund, we would beg to observe
that the Presidency has stated, that interest
on a portion of the capital belonging to said
fund is still owing by an unsettled Dealing un-
der the administration of Christiansted's Deal
ing Court.
To the Expenditure Side we wonld state the
following
Item C. IL Military Expenses in Common
NTH st. Thomas.
The amount granted Is $667, Expenditure
1907. 62, consequently an excess of expenditure
of $337.52.
We would before proceeding further, beg to
state that an error has occurred in the Budget
under this item the different items would; cor