, 1884-10-15

honorable 1st Member for Christiansted
(Willard) who had brought ND the matter
III West End.
1st Member for ChriStiansted Willard
said it is a matter we'll understood bv ali
countries and all peoples who lave made
the growing and making Of sugar their Oc-
cupatiOn, that the greatest difficulty in
the way OF that occupation is the great
competition arising from the beet root Sill
gar manufacture, III consequence of which
the prices of sugar are so low as to make
it almost impossible for the sugar growing
countries to keep up cultivation at the
present time. In reviewing the matter we
must all and each of us come to one cOnclu-
sion, that the fundamental cause of that is
the overproduction or OverStocking of the
article in almost all countries, aud it APP.
pears then that the remedy to be obtained.
especially for this island, is to get our pro
duce placed in the markets of the world on
the same, or equally as favourable position
as that OF any other sugar growing place,
and especially here in the West Indies.
To-day we do stand in that position but
throughout all the English Islands we see
agitation being made either to obtain re-
ciprocity treaties with other nations, or
the reduction of duties, particularly the
import duty on produce, in those foreign
countries. Now, if we sit down and
do nothing, those colonies will get all,
and we nothing, and it will become
utterly impossible to sell our produce
at all. OF course, if we could obtain the
same privileges in our own country for
our produce as that accorded by other ma
tons to their colonies, we should not feel
so kernly the effects of the exclusion, so
to speak, of our produce in the worlds
markets. In England sugars from the
colonies enter duty free or at less rates
than sugars from foreign countries. But
to-day the sugars of st. CroiX enter Den
mark on the same footing as other sugars;
English Islands sugar on the same foot
ing as Danish. There we labOur under a
disadvantage. There is, however, this adj
ditional one, that Beet Root Refined Sugar
pays the same duty as Cane Sugar; and
it has been argued that we cannot expect
a reduction of duty on our sugars except
it be allowed also for Beet Root. If Den
mark would admit our sugars at less rate
than other countries, it would be Il great
help and boon if that were accorded us, it
would tide us over for the first years. As
far as he understood, it could not be cX-
pected that the difficulties can be removed
at present nor for the first . years to come,
as the Beet Root crop for the coming year
~ 60 ~ SUI A"1 - III y 90 ~
the consumption, wilhelm the past years the
produce had also increased consumption.
Therefore we read of StrOngeXcrtiOns being
made III the English Islands to obtain III the
American Market a reduction of duty on
their produce. He entertained not the
slightest doubt that on proper representa-
ton from the Government Of Denmark.
there may be obtained for our produce the
same privileges as that from English or
other Islands. To obtain IL special Treaty
like that which is said to be- on foot or
concluded, with st. Domingo, it is impoSSi-
bic to force. In regard to the Sandwich
Islands, that is the only place growing
cane sugar which has been admitted en-
tlreiy free Of duty in the ports OF the Unit
ed States he did not believe that any Of
the West India Islands would succeed in
obtaining that position; but what could be
done is, that Denmark can obtain for her
colonial produce the same position in the
United States as England obtains for hers;
II any reduction be allowed for English
sugars, 1t may be obtained for Danish TOO.
Some talk has been heard of a reciprocity
treaty he could see no reason for it we
can offer no inducement or return.-If we
do not exert ourselves to get the Home
Government to represent the case, so that
our produce may in the Worlds Market be
on somewhat Same footing, we will be at
such disadvantage, compared with other
produce from these West India Islands,
that, as already shown. it will be impoSsi-
BILE for us TO grow sugar. He was aware
of the difficulties preventing the reduction
OF taxation here the Revenue is already
small compared to the Expenses of the