, 1880-07-17

NV w. o~0 -N"e
The Majority expressed q strong doubt
of the possibility of maintaining the sugar
cultivation, and they arrive at this result
from a consideration of the reports Of the
British Government Commission and Of the
American Agricultural Department, while,
according to the information contained in
the Dagblad they consider it not improba-
BILE that an improved. cultivation would
produce far better results than at present,
especially as the Estates ought tO-establish
a rational agriculture. Although the Ma
jority arrive at such a. result, they do not
think it would be just to allow st. CrOi1,
at present, to relinquish it's Sugar prOduc-
ton, without any further attempts for sue.
cess. The State must not shrink from
employing the necessary means for its
maintenance as a Sugar producing Island,
as it is to be supposed that it is the only pos
sible manner in which this, for the State,
so costly an Island can preserve its value
to the Mother Country. The Majority
next touch on the Social Conditions, and
remark that The Government, such as
the one proposed, should direct its atten-
ton towards the different administrative
reforms which the Commission has prOpO-
sed, such as the Prison Department,
School Department, Medical Department
NC. The majority start from the pre-
supposition that the Governors functions
at the same time must be limited to ST.
Thomas, and say with regard..to the defray-
ing OF the military expenses that a loan
must be granted the Colonial Treasury.
They propose to authorize the Minister of
Finance to grant The Colonial Treasury q
loan, up to 200, 0OOcr. yearly, for two years;
it is to be free from interest and reduction
in the two years, but after that it will be
subjected to 4 per cent interest and 2 per
cent reduction per annum. For the Go
vernment Commission is proposed q grant
of 30, O00cr. per annum for 2 years from
the State Treasury. They propose that
the Commission be composed of three mem
bers, among whom are to be one member
converSant with Laws and one with Agri-
culture. Until the proposed Commission
has made it's final proposition regarding
the conditions of the Island, the Majority
advise that the Military force which is in
the Islands, be allowed to remain there,
while the stare, as far as Ste. CrOix is con.
cerned will until further defray the expen.
SEES thereof, inaSmuch as the Island. La
not able to bear them. The majority how.
ever do not find that there is any special
reason for sending out a Man-Of- War to
the West Indies this year, but consider it
desirable that a training ship, in 1880 81,
ana so on, Ill ltUuTo 10 SclI dt IHV0fFdlb,
to the West Indies.
A Minority (Bille, Sturup and Tvermoes)
agree with Government and the Lands
thing that the Military expenses ought to
be assumed by the State Treasury and
make no exception against the proposed
strength of the Military force. They find
that it would be especially ~desirablelthat o
man-ofwar be stationed at the Islands, for
the whole of the year, in preference. but at
any rate for SO long u time, that the flag
could be seen not only in our wv Colonial
ports. but also in those of the neighbour
ing Foreign Colonies. They also consider
it best that a decision be arrived at, as
soon as possible, concerning the sending
out of another man-Of war to replace the
Ddgm0r, and they propose that a grant for
the support ola man-of-war for those waters
be adopted in the Ordinance. The Minor
ity are of opinion that, as large pecuniary
sacrifices are asked of the State Treasury
so should sacrifices be made OF the part of
Ste. Croix, with regard to it's Colonial In
dependence which it obtained by the Law
of 1868 on the basis of it's being able to
maintain it's expenses they therefore find
it reasonable that, if an actual suspension
of the Colonial Councils legislative author
ity existed with this law%-prOposal, it would
then obtain d provisional character, and
only be valid for a short period,-i: e. four
years. To get all the questions answered
which could cOnduce to q correct view
of the conditions-and of which the minor.
ity mention gseveral-they are OfOpiuion