, 1888-08-18

Iully cOlnclded with the arguments OF the
Vicegovernor, and he would strongly advise
and recommend to the Council to listen and
to follow them, and not go further. If,
we were now to go beyond what we are Ell.
titled to do. we expose ourselves, and it
is always unpleasant to be told, YOU are
outside of what you have a right or power
to do; it is very unpleasant to be told
so when you had no knowledge at the time
that YOU were beyond your limits; but it is
far more unpleasant to be told so when
you had beforehand been made aware OF
that fact, that you were beyond the limits,
for then YOU have no excuse. He would
recommend to honorable Members to
spare the Council from coming into that
position. Ii there be any good to be de.
rived from the motion, do as suggested
frstsby the Vice Governor and subSequent-
ly by the Chairman; and in accordance
with the Colonial Law petition the Home
Government and see if those parties will
do anything leave it to them to decide
and to act.
4th Member for FIederikSted's Country
District (ncDonald}: would firstly say, that
he thought great compliment is due to the
honorable 2nd Member for FredelikstcdS
Country District UIewitU for the clear and
able manner in which he had framed the
Draft, whatever might be the lack in toruali.
ties that might be discovered bY others; and
it must certainly be discouragiug to see
that everything brought forward hy Mem
bpls to benefit the Island or to promote
the interests Of the islands maiustay, is
repulsrd, or cold water thrown on it. Even
if this Draft laborS under some defects or
incoIIecIneSseS, a thing that applies to all
Drafts brought in before this COuncil-StiIl
amendments could be made, and he was
sure that the proponents Would take it in
good part. As far as regards theSuggestion
OF Il petition to the Government, il might
become TOO much for His ltXcrIlency the
Minister to answer all the petitions for.
warded; so many have already been
submitted and some being unansWer-
ed ON the other hand we have for a
length Of time been given hopes of seeing
for instance our financial position impr0y-
ed, Int still all expectations have hitherto
been in vain. One thing is, however. Ger
tain, that il something be not done, and
promptly done, we shall be declared Of the
benefits of the new tariff law of The United
States; in Antigua We see that regulations
have been passed whereby preparations
are made to place the Island in q position
to derive full benefit of that tariff, when it
comes III force, Ii we can afford to stand
still and look on events and not profit by
them, allU NllIudIIN see lllaI We nave no
market for our produce, is Q matter for
close consideration by those who have the
charge of the Island.
3rd Member for ChristianStcd's Country
District (Leery) said when he came here, lie
had the intention to vote for the Draft, or
for the turthering Of the measure; at same
time 1t be the understanding tbat the
saving obtained by that measure is to be
applied for abolishing export duties, 50 as
to enable lis to get benefit Of The tariff in
the United States, that should be expressly
stated; he thought that if we are to expose
ourselves to risks by replacing the Military
by Constables, it should be certain that we
get the benefits on other scores; then, the
risks could be better borne, even by those
who are not directly, but Indirectly in the
long run benefited. Now the question is,
whether it can be of use, or not, to
further this Draft; and then he would
say if the Draft is to abolish the Mill
ta1y, without STIMULATING the abolition
of the export duty too, he would vote
against it; if the export duty be mentioned,
he would vote for the furtherance thereof.
The Chairman said, that there are other
tax. payers who could claim to have benefit
from the saving on the Military Budget;
to achieve this SO just measure, there
would be required quite another Ordi.
nance.