, 1885-02-28

~ a AOfOA IA az UI0SGuU 10 mAK0
an entire alter alton in the trading rela-
tons; hence this question was not taken
up for consideration; a want has been felt
in a certain direction, and it has been
found desirable and advisable to meet this
want, but not to go further in fact it has
been found safest not to go beyond
that aim, and not to enter at present
upon that question Of the trade on
the whole. He would beg to recommend
the proposal of the Majority for adoption
by the Council, in preference to the Gov.
ernment's Draft.
End Member for Frederiksted (Browv)
could as yet not clearly see what is the
real motive of the Draft at times it Is
stated to be the legalizing of the existing
trade III the country at other times it is
stated to be consideration to the labourers'
wants: but he would say again that these
wants are being met now, without legisla-
tive interference.
3rd Member for Christiansted (Wassar0:
What is going on now in that respect
could be prevented or stopped at any mo-
ment but this illegal practice is a neces.
sity i'll the country therefore it has been
found best to legallze it now
End Member for FrederikStpd lBrown1
In SO far as the selling is done by those
who under the present Ordinance are al.
lowed to sell on estates, the practice can
not be called illegal, and cannot be stop.
ped by the Police Authorities if necessa.
~ the object could be met by establishing
or rather extending that privilege. More.
over labOnrers can and do receive provi-
siOns, at least to a certain extent, in part
payments of wages from heir employers.
Bird Member for Christiansted Wassdrd
This point has been met by the commits.
sion, whO in the report says that "the sci.
ling places OH estates according to s 8 are
so limited in extent that they can afford
no remedy for the Inconvenience COM
planned of, "and the opportunity which
labourerS have of receiving part payment
in provisions is not used by them to any
part ocular extent" The Commission does
just propose to keep those Methods open,
and that the privilege he extended 10
include the sale Of the same articles AZ
are proposed should be sold from the
shops.
3rd Member for Frederiksteds Country
District 1T. Wilson, said, ~ far AZ his
judgment went, there SEEMS to be quite ~
misunderstanding about the motive or pur-
port of the measures proposed, and of the
individual provisions OF this Draft. Last
meeting he had pointed out that planters
would be deprived hereafter Of the Old
practice OF delivering provisions TO laDour'
ers in part payment Of wages to that the
honorable Crownmember QuinI had stat
ed that he [Wiison was mistaken, while
the honorable Secretary, Lawyer Lemming
had expressed his view that that practice
would be excluded if this Daft became
law as it is now the Lawyer urged that
no one could do such a thing except he
had a license or permission from the Gov
eminent, as the practice WAS a sale and
of course it Is optional to Government 10
grant or to withhold such permission.
Thus a practice, that has existed for time
immem0rial and which has benefited the
labourer much, a practice which the labour-
ers themselves desire, will be abolished.
The planter is both able and inclined to
give those articles of food at a less cost
then shopkeeperS or merchants and he
believed thai i'll this point the Government
ought not to interfere between the planter
and thu. labOurer. On the whole the plan
ter should be at liberty to sell as much as
he likes to his estates people without his
being taxed; if additional taxes are to be
placed on him, or on any one furnish.
ing food to labourerS, that must inevi.
tally increase the prices of the articles,
but this is certainly not advisable; labour-
ers should have their supplies at the lowest
rates possible; we should rather remove
restrictions and taxes, instead of increasing
them. AS regards the liquor question, he