, 1877-07-21

abilities of the gentleman who has for many
years been administering it has aided so mate
rally 10 the Development of the labOur rela-
tions but our financial position 10 the
defence OF the measure, and he thought
the Council could feel confident in the conf
dence which the Authorities, tie Government,
the Presidency and The PoIicsn asters, show
In the matter not one dissenting voice among
them having been he ara.
Moore took his seat.
1st Member for Christiansted Coulter was
of opinion that when the Centre Police District
be abolished, if the 2 other Policemasters do
not take active steps and at once exercise
strict control in the districts adjacent 20 Kings.
hill, many estates will suffer materially, as
already how We see on many estates a great
number of labourers regularly absent from
work on Mondays, being in town, especially in
West End, where the half gang ofsome estates
may be found at times. He should think
it necessary, especially in the commencement.
that something should be done to check this
growing evil.
3rd Member for Fred,riksted's Country
District (SkeOcA) could endorse the opinion Of
the last Speaker, that the l~abOurers' absence
on Monday from work is now q growing evil
he mentioned a case that had occurred that
very morning on an estate.
end Member for Frederiksted (Browo) fully
agreed with The 9 honourable Speakers that
the absence Of labOurers from work on Mondays
is becoming a growing evil. But it appears
it had partly been checked in Basin it has
never been permitted in West End, where the
Policemaster is very vigilant, and strict con-
troll is exercised in this respect, so that very few.
if any, of the country labOurers can have re-
sort there at all events it 10 merely by stealth
that they can do 50, as the Police are ever
aofiuo ~ SoarnbinN md GDAinr NhoDn ont H.
rather believed that it was on the estates
themselves that the ~skulking labourers were
harbOured they meet together there for
gambling, and after working certain hours
they come to town. This is the evil which the
Police will have to look after.
The President was sorry to hear the evil Ia
question is increasing but he could not exact
J understand why complaints are made iust
now in connection with the intended change
ifthey had como forward after the Polioesta.
tiou at Kingshill had been abolished. they
might have been taken as the result Of that;
but if the evil had shewn itself before. it must
be independent Of that abolition, and it will
be difficult to say what then could be the
remedy, particularly if it is so, as asserted,
that the labOurefs do not 60 to town bat skull
on estates. Tia only remedy be could thiuk
of would be that the sstats.OWners themselves
be- watcbiul Of the matter and denOuncs skulk.
eTS. Inc VICE or CAMPING ID Increasing, ana
as We advance in time, the more necessary it
will become that planters assist the Police Ia
matters of the kind. particularly when we
shall have come to the period when the AbOli-
ton of he Lab0ur Regulations will be carried
out. Whrn a new order of things will ensue.
requiring the attention Of planters and mana.
gers. Honorable Members are aware, that
it is generally maintained, although be could
Hot say, whether it was so or not, that there
Is not always as much discretion shown on the
part of managers and planters in their conduct
towards the people as is desirable. One thing
il, however, certain, that the police cannot do
everything we have gone further in that
respect than any other of the West India
Islands. and have kept up q sort of patriarchal
system in regard to these matters, which can.
not remain forever. AS time progresses cir.
Cumstances around US change, and we must
try to accommodate our actions thereto. The 40.
preaching change to a more natural system does
not originate exclusively from US here, but
is in a great measure required and insisted
upon by the Home Government partly as a
condition for the assistance granted to the.
island in consequence of the late deficient crops,
Years ago voices were raised here. but more
10 the Mother country, for introducing a more
natural state of things between the proprietors
and labourers. When that change is made.
and we no longer have a compulsory system
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