, 1882-01-25

view held by the Government in this mat
ter, and to see that Government is not
inclined to have the Draft furthered.
He should think, and he was inclined to
believe that most Members of the Council
agreed with him, that the Government
could at any stage of the discussions have
brought in amendments to this Draft, TO
suit il to what Government thinks should
be the law, and not stop the furtheIing.
This is perhaps Il matter which the
Government had not expected would have
come forward so soon; but he would ask
Government to allow the matter to be fur
theled to Il Committee, instead of laying
it on the shelf.
The Chairman pointed out, that 1t
depended on the Council and not on the
Government ifthe Draft should be further
ed or not, but of course in that respect the
Council would likely be guided by Govern.
mpnt's view.
LIST Member for Frederiksted's (BrOwn)
in reference to the suggestion of q Shop
on Kingshill, would say that such u shop
could not be legally kept there in
former times it was the military canteen,
from which provisions were sold also to
estates, and rum too. 1t was certainly
very lucrative, and such a shop, il eStab.
liShed again would be very beneficial to
labourers aud planters on the surrounding
estates; but it could not be considered
allowable in only that case to give permits.
sion for a private shop in the country.
2nd Member for C~hristianSteds Country
District Coulter said he had just intended
to legalize hat business.
2nd Member for ChriStiansted [Lemmingl
said he had been very happy to listen to
what had come from the Government in
this matter, and he fully agreed with tho
views and arguments advanced by the
Government. He for his Part would only
say, that the Ordinance Of 9th September
1888, which the present Draft intends
to favour us with notifications in and
additions to, is Worded III such IA manner,
that this Draft would not make any mOdi-
f|cations in it, but would really do away
with the to which il alludeS. The s Of
the said Ordinance Of 1853 to which tho
Draft alludeS preScribes that trading shall!
be limited to the towns alone, this Draft
saws that it shall be lawful to carry on
trade in the country too this is practically
to do away with the tirstnamed restrictive
enactn ent in the Ordinance Of IS 3. The
Government objects to this change, chiefly
because of the position III which the
labourerS may be placed towards the pro-
p~riet0rS; we have to-day heard different
remarks from the prOpOSerS of this Draft,
and it cannot he denied that there are
some reasons that argue very much Ill
favour of some alteration being made to
meet the requirements of the altered state
of things; and he also thought We could
believe the propOSers when they declare
never having had any intention to place
the labourers in amy dependence on them;
the prOpOscrS are men of sense, end they
wOuld be aware that it would be impOssi'
Die after 1878 to make the people Deepen.
dent in any way. The intent has, then
ITO doubt only been to benefit the people,
But on the other hand there is something
more which would not speak i'll favour OF
this new enactment, and that is: we have
from time to time issued a plumber OF
licenses to carry on trade Ill town; THIS
right could not be taken away from those
license holders or traders, except remunera'
ton were given them; if we should come tn
the conclusion to do that, certainly 1T would
require a considerable addition to the
Budget; but he was not aware of % measure
of that kind being likely to be accepted
The honorable 2nd Member for Frederlk'
sted,s Country District IJUnghdnsl had
however to-day introduced another point;
lie shewS that now the privilege granted
to the labourers residing permanently on
estates, to sell articles Of common food and
candles to other labourerS on the same
property. is being abused, AMI he seems to
infer that such parties sell many other
things besides those allowed to prevent
this, it is proposed that this privilege be
aboliShpd and tina it he lawful for every