, 1889-07-31

utiIdl1 VII ClllSidICCS JIldU udVG leu 10 Cu0
want Of labOur force being more sharply
felt now. The extraordinary or ordi.
nary, for it is of long standing cause
of that want is the decrease caused by the
withdrawal from estates work Of large
numbers of labOurerS who are employed in
small CIVILIZATIONS for Themselves or
others. But if this is so, why raise OH
j~ectiOnS to measures suited to recruit
the constantly decreasing Iabour forct Z
II Is requisite not only to keep MP tl.
present cultivation, but also for ~in:reA4-
inL it, whereby the Government would
also obtain an increase of revenue.
Bed Member for Frederiksted'S Country
District (HeuitD: 1t is from Barbados
chiefly that we hlve hitherto GIT orr
immigrants there a Shilling pr day in
the average prlce of labpur. We have at
times paid 30cts aud freo h,u44 W, tn other
perquisites but the re.ult WAS th IT m )ra
labourers fell off; they worked only for
4 days, then 3 days of the week; instead
of the increase doing any good, it did
harm. In Barbados it is different tho
people get no house and have to bring
their Own implements of work hers
we have to provide I all thIt for the
estates accounts. Therefore there wa4
~ place where the l~a3ourers flock to
ilOIC bAol AClOS gnu ilbilJ ICNHIH dkitE
being absent a time, and some nave bsen
here upwards of % years. At the tims
when We could have got them under ia
vOurable terms, the Gov rnnent won lid
not assist and many planters were then
really peCunlarlly unable to mrer the OK
ppnseS and now we can't get them. But
what is to become of the Island without
Immigrants Look around and see the
amount of grass and weeds in the pieces
of young sprouts, especially in the centre
OF the Island there Is no force available
to get the work of wedding done To
meet this the Committee proposes an in-
PRODUCTION of 300 to 400 Chinese. When
we have a decrease TO the extent of that
shown in the first Report from tho
Committee, we must provide an adequate
Increase.
4th Member for ChrisUiansted's Country
District (R0phdeD No planter is suffering
more from the want of labDur in tn Island
than he himself on his Estates situated in
the centre of the Island. There is a cOu-
slant drawing off Of labOurerS to cultivate
or assist in cultivafing small farms Of
their own; they appear on the lists of the
Estates and occupy their houses, where
they stop at night, but by dawn they are
away tOiwOrk for their kim or for themselves;
tllS llIc OH rs OF course more ATTRACTION
aud by degrees the numbers thus employed
hut not at work has become great. OF
60 rs" nothing can be done to prevent it.
But it will become utterly impossible with.
III = short time to work the Estates in the
Centre of the island. HIS Excellency
spoke of our offering IabouItrs from
abroad greater Inducements; but it is not
possible To do more than at present. Wa
cant atf nd to go too far. When We get
a good year., we are not. to forget thar it
won't last, that the bad ones will come too
1t is we'll known that plan erS have paid
high wages and thereby got in drbt. And
again, what we want is an increase that
we can rely urOn if we get All Immigrant
for / years contract, he will be out IL green
for the first year just as he has commenced
to learn, he will leave, and we will have
had no real benefit Of him. What we RS
quire is a sufficient number of labOurerH
unde: 50 years contract. Planters are
willing to pay but immigrants from the
npighbourhoOd, even if we are satisfied to
get, are not available. Now as regards
His Excellency'S observation that we
might get people who might do mischief,
it is natural to suppose that the planter
would look out to get the best people; for
he will be the first and greatest sufferer.
The tendency shows that small properties,
and the number OF hands on them, must
Increase, while the estates labOur must
decrease; whether it is in the end good