, 1888-10-31
P R 0 G { E D N G s
OF TEEE
COLONIAL COUNCIL
FOR ST. CROTX.

where formerly the manufactures Of pro-
duc9 was conducted in the old manner,
but where now extensive central eSta-
blishments have been built and where
generally large numbers Of labOurers
from very many estates are collected
at work, requiring some authority to
maintain order and prevent disturbances,
we find no provision whatever made, but
the district is left TO itself; while it is
beyond ii doubt that the taxpayers there
rave a decided and perfect right to expect
protection; the present force is IA IaugIa-
Bile mOckery, a force cooked up on horse
back only to be Knocked at; still we see
$4,000 annually expended for the Police
and Military, an amount for which very
nearly the whole Administrator Of thu Is.
land Of Dominica with $4,000 inhabitants
is carried on, viz: GIG, 900. If we 90 fur
ther and look for instance at st. Vincent VT
find that with a population Of 1873 the
Revenue is G33,S57 or $l69, 2S5 and an
expenditure Of G30,S44 or Sl54, 22O, or
$4,000 yearly Revenue above Expendi-
ture. The Vice Governor: In what state
is that ISland?.... Thesame at least as st.
CrOiX; but properties find ready sale there;
here property cannot besOld. -; Thenaglin
thcreis ST. Kits, Nevis and Anguilla with
q population Of 1851, a revenue Of
,e55, 443 or 3277.215 and an Expenditure Of
S208, $50. All these Islands with which we
must compete, have yearly a cOnSidera-
bic sum Of expenditure below the revenue,
while here our expenses are always in rX.
cess, and while in 1851 the Budget for the
three Islands Showed an expense Of
S250,00O, now, 81 years later, the expense
for the one Island alone reaches that figure
and we have but $4,000 Inhabitants here.
~, 1874 El, ,n,,.,n fn, - (lVpi "a hama,
were 3l54,000; 81 years later we find
them 500, 600 higher. It is impossible to
continue under that increasing burtben
we must compete with those Islands men
toned, especially in the American market,
and if we have those enormous expenses.
how are we to do without the export duty?
To levy a new tax instead thereof on this
already 0verburthened and impoverished
community, would be outrageous. Bui
what is to be the result if the Government
sits with its arms folded doing nothing?
In fact Denmark is the only MOthercountry
thai has done so little for her colonies,
while France, England, and Spain have
vastly benefited their colonies. But indie
pendent OF chat point, the Island cannot
bear the expenses of its immensely costly
Administration, for production does not
paw some few fortunate estates have paid
their expenses, but as a whole, the Island
does not produce a SuffiCient value to pay
the cost of labOur and time bestowed ON
the manufacture, or the common current
expenses. Still what is to be done, when
the Minister sends us such a letter He
did not like to make further comments on
it. but then, as he understood, it is FIX
prpsSly stated that no tax can he removed
before we have brought about a balance in
the budgets but it IS prepoSterouS to
think that the budgets can reCtify them
selves and get themselves to balance. He
would now merely repeat that the Draft
does not abolish the Military Force but
puts something equally if not more eff
cient instead thereof; and if it be so that
so cOnStables be considered insufficient,
the number might be increased we shew
up a saving of $4,000, and from that
amount we might provide for an all
ditiOnal number to meet the require
ments, But what are we to do then
with a larger force? His Excellency
the Vice Governor had in the course of his
remarks last meeting dwelt upon the point
of the Military being here for the purpose
of guarding against solutions or enemies
from abroad; but is it possible that any
one could imagine that 100 men and 30
nOn-commiSsioned officers etc, with old
useless musketS, could protect this Island
from attacks from abrOadF Why, thathand-
ful is especially under circumstances useless
for home purposes, much less to serve to
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