, 1882-03-25

ANSu IL 1IODl S6N6Id1 DOIulS Ol Wow
objections can be raised against a measure
of this nature, still, it is a principle which
when circumstances recommend it, has not
so seldom been reSorted to even in legisla-
tive-enactmentS of modern date; and one
which seems more especially to be in its
place III cases like the present, where it
has shewn itself to be so very difficult by
the ordinary means at disposal to get
proper hold of transgreSSions.
The Majority has found no reason to
propose an increase of the fines prescribed
in the Ordinance of 10Th November 1915.
which will, no doubt, be found adequate
in their effect, if only cases of tranSgression
be promptly brought before the Courts.
Nor do we find any reason to propose, as
is done in the Draft, an enactment, differ
ing from the general legal enactments, in
reference to the application of that part
of the fines that will not goto the infOrmer.
In accordance with the foregoing the Majo-
rlty begS to propose, instead of the Draft
submitted to the Council, the following:
Draft of Ordinance containing extension
Of and notifications in the Ordinance of
10Th November 1915 concerning the Sale
of Spirits and concerning rumshops in the
towns Of st. Croix &c.
L.
Estates PrOprietorS or other manufacture
ers OF Rum shall in future not be allowed
to sell Rum manufactured 10y them in
smaller quantities than ) gallons.
..
TranSgresSionS of this Ordinance shall
be punished with fines not below - and
not exceeding 100 dollars.
The half OF the fines inflicted shall 90
to the %infOrner.
Cases concerning tranS@reSsiOns of this
Ordinance shall be prosecuted as public
police suits.
Of the fines inflicted under the Ordi-
nance of y November 1875 s 1G the half
shall in future go to the informer.
The Minority cannot agree with the
Majority from the following reasOns:-
The object that would be gained by the
view held by the Majority and the Draft
proposed by them would be that the fines
are to be divided between the Rumfund
and the informer; and planters be allowed
to sell rum in quantities of ) Gallons.
If, at the same time, the fines are to
remain as fixed in the ordinance of 24th
December 1873; viz. from $1j-100, which
is what the Majority proposes in , of
Its Draft, there would no doubt be but
very few persons informed upon; for, if
the minimum of the fine inflicted for the
first offence is to be S15, planters and
others might well run the risk C9continu-
ing the illegal trade, knowing beforehand
that as the amount of the fine is so
very small, there would be but few
parties to take the opportunity Of in
forming on them in the meantime the
illegal trade would be Carried on for a long
time, and if those engaged therein should
at all be found out, they will by that time
have made more han sufficient to pay
with %impunity the fine inflicted
minority is therefore of the opinion that to
prevent or intimidate those who would
otherwise infringe the law, it is necessary
not only that the fines be divided as above
stated, but also that the fines should be
higher, not below 500 and not exceeding
$500 dollars.
Besides that the majority has overlooked
III framing its Draft, that there might be
other persons residing in the country
districts, besides planters and manufacture
ers of Rum, who ought also to come in
under the general prohibition against sell
ling rum below a certain given quantity;
also i'll this respect the Minority prefers to
retain the original wording of the Draft.
Furthermore, the Minority cannot see
any reason why the limit for the sale of
rum in the country should be 5 gallons, as
proposed by the Majority; the Minority
is all the less able to see any cause for so
doing in face of the memorial received from
about eighty five per cent of the planting
proprietOrs, including the most prominent
planters and some members of this VerV