, 1881-04-13

O0A W N9 S0~S S00O OA
the whole crop in four months we ought to
be satisfied. It is evidently a difficult
matter for the Factory to distribute the
quantity receivable at each station among
the deliverers to their satisfaction and
when these gentlemen lay stress on the
statement hat they could take off their
crop quicker at their own works we must
not forget that our present weather, unfor-
tunately we may perhaps say, is very favor.
able to grinding operations, placing no
0bstaclein the way in the shape of rain
were the weather different, planters might
be only too glad of the Factory's help.
But it is clear that we cannot have the help
OF the Factory one year and use our W
works the next, just as may appear to
be most advantageous.
We must remember that our Home
Government takes the greatest interest in
the Factory Question, looking upon the
erection of Central Factories as the only
way to revive the island and place it
in a position to compete in the worlds
sugar markets. and in this connexion
we may refer to the report of the Finance
Minister'S speech to the Rigsdag in No. %
of this paper. Let US remember that we
are no longer able to stand on our own
resources, as is shewn by our Budget
in only too painful q degree, where it
is plainly shewn that we have not a cent
to pay military expenses. When we con-
slider these facts we must come to the con.
clusion that it is beststo support and work
with that institution, on the Importance
of which the Mother Country lays, rightly
as we believe, so much stress. Let us not
allow it to come to this, that the people
at Home give up st. Croix. Without the
help of the M0thercountry st. CIoix would
NOT no ohIa RI maintain itcn1f &C q cInQr
producing island, and we would become,
not Immediately, but in the course of
years, a second st. Johns, Yes, some one
will say, all this may be very true, but
the Factory is not therefore to be held
sacredly free from all criticism, and from
all opposition against what may be found
wrong in it. Certainly not, and nobody
thinks so, not even from the side of the
Factory. But besides that every one can
express his opinion publicly, there is an
institution here, principally fotmed by
those most interested in the Factory, and
which, besides being a control of the local
administration at the same time is a link
between planters and the Factory we
mean of course the controlling committee !;
this body will certainly always willingly
receive and in the right pace bring forward
any proposal tending to reform, and will also
spontaneously ~criliZise and complain of
what it finds 10 be wrong.
Further we would call attention to that
paragraph in the Company's laws which
says that the annual accounts of the Com
pany are to be exhibited 10 St, Croix for
the inspection of the Shareholders every
year, which would also give US an insight in
to the state of affairs at the Factory. This
provision, although made in the laws, has.
very wrongly, not hitherto been observed.
1t is also true that the annual reports have
not hitherto contained any reference from
The Control Committee out here, which per-
haps arises fro m the fact that the Committee
has only at a comparatively recent Gate
been appointed, but we have reason 10 be-
iieve that the Committee will in future fur.
nish the directors with full reports, aud
these ought to be published at the
General Meetings, as is the case with
other companies, and should be SO
much more 10 this, which concerns the
vital interests of the whole community.
We may say that on the whole we
think greater publicity would be a
positive advantage to the Factory.
Even when there are faults, it would
insure their carrier correction. not to men,
ton that publicity is always better than
the spread of mistrust by gossip in
corners.-The Government receives reports
concerning the working of the Factory and
its results, and it would not be unreason-
able that after the conclusion of the cam