, 1885-02-18

tors or managers would not be willing to
have a retailer establishing, hence it will
be those parties themselves or their sub
stitutes they will sell everything, as we
see, even liquor, and who is to control I
This must certainly be detrimental to shop
keepers III town, they must ultimately col
lapse, Besides that, such an opportunity to
nave unlimited shops in the country would
cause corrupt dealings, and the system
would become an evil, instead of a good.
He would prefer that, as hitherto, it be al.
lowed labOurerS OF good repute to dispose
of the articles now allowed, to the labour-
ers on the estate. The other measure will
not be productive of the good desired la
bourers will not be de tered from going to
town, even if there are shops on the es-
tates; even if the keeping of provision
shops by planters on estates be legalized,
still labourerS will always find their way
to the towns from the numberleSs other
reasons that call them thither they are
nOmadic in their habits at the same time
this little beginning may by corrupt prac-
tees become a serious evil, which might in
time require greater measures to repreSS.
He conceded with the views expressed by
the Minority, Mr.. Wassard, in the Commits
sion and If he be permitted to use a SINH
litude, he would say that if the food tor 3
horses be divided among 10 horses, each
must get but a prOportionately small guam
tity, and the condition of the animal must
decrease, he must grow weaker and the
owner must be prepared to lose him. In
the country the trading business would
improve under the new organisation in
The towns the trading business must be-
come insignificant and ultimately close.
lie hoped that this Draft will be referred
to a Committee, and that the Committee
will sift the matter, and by taking the
opinions of practical men, arrive at a Solu-
tiOE that will stand its test.
The Secretary said he would not now EN-
ter into the discussions, but would merely
beg to correct d statement made by the
honorable LIST Member for ChriStianSted
(Willard) the h0nourable Member said it
was the first time to-day he had heard Of
the Majority Of the Commission having
proposed that Il Ourgher-bref should be
given for half fees to planters, when open
ing shops in the country; but he (the Sc
cretary) would call attention to the Report
from the Commission, p. ., where these
words are found Notwithstanding the
provision in the Ordinance of 9Th Septem-
Der 1858, Il Burgttr Brief should be re-
CURED in order to keep such a shop, for
which the same tax should he paid as is
paid for retail trade in the towns; if the
shop is kept by the estate owner himself
only half the fees are to be paid" The
said Report is signed by the honorable
Member, besides the other Members of the
Commission.
LIST Member for Christiansted (Willard)
said it is true that those words are in the
Report, but it was only the Danish Report
he had signed; and this had Taught him Il
lesson not in future to sign anything in
Danish, except an English translation, cost
what it might, be procured. He did not
mean to Say that the question of the fees
had not been talked of at all iii the Com
mission; but as far as his memory served
him, it was never adopted by the Majority,
of whom he happened to be one, that II
proposal should be made about half fees
for planters taking Il burgher brief as
retailers.
End Crown Member IHGnsohelD would, in
reference to the remarks from LIST Member
for Christiansted Willard) beg to be allow
ed to say a few words. He would then
say, that in his opinion the Government
had i'll reality met a general wish of the
ting the Draft as it is before us to-day. 1t
is so, namely, that 5 L proposes that "the
Superior Authority may grant to mer-
chants and retailers in the towns of st.
Croix, licenses to open shops in the coun-
try, not, however, within a distance of
three quarters of a Danish mile from