, 1882-01-21

would be the protection for the town
traders, if planters should not only sup
ply but also retail provisions in the coun-
tryq The business would be lucrative for
them surely it would pay hired labour
on the estates; but there would be nothing
but S~tore-houses in the towns. The pass
ing of this law would, then, be a very
unfair thing towards the towns and those
who have paid for their licenses or bur
gherbriefS, counting upon certain run OF
business. The ayOWed object of the Draft
is to keep the labourers on estates; but
they would withal that come to town or at
all events leave their work. Taking it
for granted that the Government will soon
bring forward some rules to meet this
matter, he would not think it necessary to
urge this measure now
The acting President would beg to refer
more precisely to the Governments words
in this matter, which are to cause an inves-
tigatiOn how far these laws require some
modification or eventually some limited
extension, and thereafter to take the
necessary steps for alterations.
LIST Member for ChriStianSted (W{UdTd)
said that as one of the m%trOducerS of this
draft, it was imperative on him to explain
the position Of the proponents; he would
not enter into any lengthy discussion on
this Draft but he would Just state that it
is well known what difficulties are now
experienced in regard to the labourers
obtaining their supplies and food; on
many estates no provisions whatever are
to be had, none are given as part payment
of wages, nOn are sold by the proprietor
or manager; the little that can be had
some places is # from hucksters; but in one
part of the Island, this sort oil trade is
looked on as illegal, when it is not carried
on by a labOurer permanently employed
on the estates; in the other it is not so
considercd ;-and there is no doubt that
when the Government looks into he appli-
cation OF the law in this respect Ov legal
men, it will be found how necessary 1t IS
to have one Interpretation, one uniform
rule, that must be followed all over the
Island, and that it shall not be the case
that it shall be the rule in one jurisdiction
that whole cargOeS can be sold and broad
cast sale carried on, while i'll the other
jurisdiction not only this is considered
unbelievable but even the huSkStering is
suppressed. He did not believe that it is
the intention oflegal mentodo wrong, when
making two such opposite interpretations
of the law. But the law was made many
years ago, under circumstances quite diff
ferent from those existing now, and the
law does not cover the present state Of
things: Then it was the general rule
established in the period nearest the
emancipation that labOurerS received Ger
tain articles of provision from the prOprie-
tor, and they were not always articles
for the bare ~SuStenanc@ of life; now they
get none; they have to buy; and while
formerly the chief, or almost the only
article which one labOurer sold the
other was some cOrnmeal, now more is
required and while, for instance, they
should only sell candles, now they sell
oil; this is also contrary to those old enact
ments. That rule, combining the sale by
labourprS to only certain articles, is not and
cannot be maintained, but it is being trans
crossed and miSuSed The objectOfthiS Draft
is tOhave O%nerule, be it in the one way or III
the other; he for his part would just as
we'll see that it was prohibitOry, as per
miSsive but then, where is the protection
we want to make out for the labouring
classes ?-If this draft is to be thrown ont
he would think that it should be most
strongly urged on Government not to let
it last too long before it has had these
matters investigated and has taken some
action in them. There is no desire for
any change except from consideration to
the lahOurerS he was OH the whole no
admirer of m%onopolies, and never for a
moment was it his or the others intention
to create any monopoly on the country
trade; but us long as things remain as they
are now, labourers will be under very
great disad, antages in obtaining articles
for their daily sustenance.
ITO be continued