, 1884-12-31

'E0N N'NN' -f't
No one requested the word, the Address
was read in Danish and English and was
adopted unanimously with 13 votes; it
runs as follows:
THE KING AND THE DIET OF
DENMARK.
MOST GRACIOUS KING, HIGH DIET,
In October last 'Ethe Agricultural Assoc
cjati0n' Of st. CroiX forwarded, through
the Governor, a Memorial to the Mother
country in consequence OF the low Sugar
Prices, occaSloned by the over production
of Beet-Sugar in Europe, and the imminent
danger, arising therefrom, to the Sugar
Cultivation of this Island.
The Colonial Council can on the whole
approve the motives Of that Memorial, as
the Sugar Production Of this Island must
be materially reduced and must ultimately
cease, when the crop can not even cover
the administration expenses Of estates.
Since the said Memorial was framed, the
prices of Sugar have, however, fallen still
more; a pound ofSugar here netts now no
more than II cents but even in good
middling years, it isrequiSite, to cover those
administration expenses, that q pound of
sugar should nett 3 cents at least.
IT the state of things existing here at
present should C0ntinue-the prospects for
the nearest future indicate still sooner Il
fall, instead OF a rise of pTice-the Sugar
Production must cease in the near future.
1t is, then, but natural, that the Island
should in this our distress apply to the
MOthercOuntry for Her aid and assistance,
to enable the Island to continue it's Sugar
Cultivation, its chief, nay It's sole means of
subsistence, until the crisis shall have been
passed and a natural state Ot>thi"gs again
ensueS.
The Colonial Council of this Island there
fore begS to present to the King and
the Diet OF Denmark this most sub.
missive Memorial, wherein the Council,
without any intention to ~forestall the deci-
sion in the matter, begs leave to suggest
or to indicate, how it might be attaina-
BILE to get the administration expenses
covered.
Several of the West India Islands, for
instance st. Domingo and the Spanish and
British Islands, have already either con-
cluded, or are engaged in negotiations for
obtaining, treaties with the United States
of America for the purpose of securing
duty-free importation Of their Sugar pro-
duce into those States.
The Council would therefore solicit, that
endeayOurs be made to secure the same for
the Danish Island Of St. Croix, i'll such
wise hat the Produce of this Island may
in that our nearest Market be placed on
an equal footing with our West India
Sugars.
Several Countries of Europe, for-instance
at all events France, Spain and Germany,
support and protect their own producers
Of Beet Root and Sugar-Cane- Sugar i'll
various ways, partly by a bonus, and part
ly by lower rates of excise taxes or Import
duty than that on foreign Sugars.
But i'll Denmark Danish producers of
Beet and Cane Sugar are, in respect to
Excise OR importantly, in no respect better
situated than foreign Sugar-producers, the
latter being in reference to certain sorts
of Sugar, even more favourably situated.
In consequence thereof Danish Sugars
can not, either in those foreign countries
or in Denmark itself, compete with Sugars
from those other places, since, with the
same prices, the nett-returns will be less
than for those foreign producers.
This difference ought therefore to be
rnmovod onJ fbuc moHn If n0SGIhI0