, 1882-04-01

Christiansted spoke on the matter the
honorable Member had spoken short but
we'll his arguments were just what he
[Lemmingl felt and thought. Since then
other views and considerations had been
advanced but he would now beg to re-
turn to what the honorable Member (Wil-
lard) had stated. The honorable Member
said that the intention of the Draft was
to prevent drunkenness among labourerS
on estates therefore in the Committee 1t
was agreed on, that the really best thing
to do was to find out those who sell rum
by the drink on estates, and if the police
can not succeed in doing that, then to let
half of the fines go to any person informing
on parties selling by the drink. AS at the
same time there was a wish expressed by
planters to have a restriction made as to
the quantity of rum which manufacturers
shall be at liberty to sell on estates, and
as the Majority or rather the Committee
found that something, although not much,
could be obtained i'll that way too, 1t was
adopted to recommend such a restriction
but to make this restriction higher than IS
the rule for everybody else in the island,
appeared to be out of the way. The only
way to take it was to say, that planters
and manufacturers shall be at liberty to
sell in as small quantities as anybody else
in town. The Committee received q
memorial wherein some of the planters
suggested that 100 gallons should be fixed
as the limit in the country. Those of the
signerS of that memorial who were Mem
berS of the Committee withdrew after
wards, and so did other planters; and 1T
had aStOniShed him somewhat to notice
that the honorable 2nd Member for Frede-
rikSted (BrOWn) who was i'll the Committee
too, can not see the reason why those plan
tiers withdrew, namely because they came
to see that a restriction OF a further going
extent would only benefit RumShOpkeepers
and not prevent the evil of drunk ness on
estates, since there would always be found
parties from town who would even run the
risk OF keeping rumshOpS on estates until
they are discovered. But there is one thing
more to be noticed, that ifthe Majority
could have wished to put on planters a
heavier restriction, it could not under the
civil laws be allowable to impose a reStrlc-
ton on a whole class of inhabitants, and
deprive them of a part of their rights
except all of that class agreed to 1T, and
not merely the majority of them a maJo-
rity could not deprive the minority OF any
portion of a right in civil law, hence, it
could not be sanctioned by the Government
as long as but one party or on" planter
objected to the restriction. lIe would
furthermore add, that while the matter
was in Committee, he had had the
honour as Chairman of the Commit
tee to call on His Excellency the
Governor on this matter; His Excel
lency had then expressed nc wish for a
higher restriction than 5 gallons, and in
conformity herewith the Majority had
framed its proposal. When it was said
that merchants alone have the right to sell
rum in small quantities when they get a
license and pay a tax Of 50 pr. quarter, he
would say this is not correct merchants
and any body entitled to trade can sell
rum by the 5 gallons when merchants
and traders pay a tax of 50 per quarter
they can sell brandy and gin etc. but not
rum, by the bottle; rumshopkeepers can
sell rum in smaller quantities, by the glass
and drink. In conclusion he would recon-
mend the Majority's proposals.
End Member for Frederiksted (BrOacn)
said he had noticed the argument used,
viz that this Draft refers merely to the
prevailing drunkenness on estates, and
the measures to prevent this. But then,
it must not be forgotten, that there are
other parties besides the manufacturer,
the planter, whose interest should be
consulted and watched over too; in try
ing to remedy the evil complained Ofby
planters, care must be taken to avoid
injuring the interests of license-hOlderS or
those legally engaged in the rum selling
business. We have to-day heard from
several quarters that this measure of the
Majority, to allow planters to sell as low
0c = ro1In1C y1Tn &c 1psr,r.0r,c Io TorCf