, 1888-03-03

Draft, in view Of the difference Of our
financial position since the last Budget;
for, since then, there has been given
mortgage in the property, also the budget
funds, of the Municipality, and levy
too on the Factory etc; still we AVE heard
not one single word from His EXcellency
about the situation; therefore he could
really not see what is the use and meaning
of the Council voting on such IA Budget.
AB>,the Colonial Treasury virtually has
got no means or funds of it's own, there
can be nothing to vote away. The hnau.
cial Encouragement for the last years has
left it in the most deplOrable condition,
almost worse than any of the other West
India Islands. If we look at the actual
revenue, we see that it is, even apart from
the considerations just stated, insufficient
of itself to meet the ordinary EXPENSES
which we nave to pay; he was at Il loss to
see the motive Of the Home Government
for keeping up this position. Under exist
ing circumstances he should consider 1t
would be the most proper thing tor tins
Council to make a representation to tue
Home Government to place our hlanceS
on a sound basis. But TO SHe year after
wear the Government here introducing the
Budgets for the colony. presenting al
most the same feature, almost tho same
wording, only some additional items for
some special increase of expenditures, IL
Encouraging. 1t is true, that at some FIJI
ture time the Ministry must ~aSSiStj buj
when will that time comet But if we had
voted against the Budget or at least some
of the items thereon, our financial position
would have been better; it is entirely too
much to expect that a SINAI Island like this
should keep up a military establishment.
ShAroforn fho aOOnnr tina MOthRr (JN1ItHV
fulfls her obligations towards the colony,
In the same manner us done towards other
colonies, the better it would bej the Mother
country should assume such expenses which
we cannot bear. St. CrOiX should enjoy
the same recognition rs that shown Oy
other States towards their colonies, at
least AZ far as the public expenses are con
cerned. He could see no use ut the COun.
ellis vote on the Budget, an already stated;
no man when voting for this Budget can
do SO ,c~QnseientiQusly we'll knowing Within
himself, or admitting, that the expenses
herein contained are necessary for the ext
iStence of a proper Administrations 1t We
sum up the two Items for the Sanitary
Department aud the Poor Depart ment We
aud tho total $3l ,32S, and with the amount
ON the Additional Bill discussed to-day viz:
4l,0 900, the final total is S32,328 for "a pOpu.
latiOn of $4,000, and a population living
in one Of the healthieSt Islands; this is
something prepOsterOuS. If we look at one
Of the British colonies here, with about
same population Is, 1870 and the same indus
trial occupation AS St. Croix,-if we look al
the public revenue and expenditure of To-
bAgo, We will find the whole total expen'
diture to be- $4,000 or $50, 900; and If
TObago under the circumstances NAMED,
can be administrated at an expenditure Of
$50, 600 y. a., then we here, who, can boast
of a more healthy condition, where lahOur.
"eIs have their houses and 10 one need, walk
about without being able to get work,
ought not to have more EXPENSE; but i'll.
stead of that we have IN expenditure more
than the double of that amount, and We
use about / of the total revenue on two
such items as Sanitary and Poor Depart
ment. There is something wrong in this.
AS for the Poor Department, he would OBJ
.ject to the Board in charge of the Depart
ment; it consists partly of the Clergyme0
of all the religious denominations, and,
with exception, of the Lutheran Clergyman
1T iS not unfrequent to hear them i'll the
Board urging or even qNarrelling for as.
~Sistance to members, of their. respective
congregations. The Board should be diff.
ferently. constituted-(the honorable Mem,
her touched upOn q particular i~nstance.) D.
He knew persons who are working on %:
$50 H.A -14 o&st1 A.0sv, O~n