, 1891-10-07

according to. his calculation, about IL or IS
estates requiring the assistance here proposed,
and Of them there are z delivering canes to the
Factory. The money is required now; later
on 1t would be OF no use to the parties; and
in recommending this proposal, he would ask
His Excellency to look favourably on it and
to further it.
The GoverHor said the immigration Fund is
a fund peculiarly situated. The returns at
present from the revenues attached to the
fund are ample, the yearly expenses for immi-
grafton purposes having for some years been
limited and less than the yearly revenue. If a
more ample application Of the means of the
immigration Fund could be found in the future
to the benefit of the Island, it would be recon-
mendabl to adopt such application. We all
know that the Island is at times subject to
agricultural crisis, against which it would be
good, If possible, to guard or to provide. But
some time ago the honorable Colonial Council
was not in favour Of giving a more extended
use to the immigration Fund. Anyhow, what
ever application is to be made of it, must be
carefully considered by the Administration.
Now as regards the present proposal to come
to the aid of Sugar cultivation by granting
advances from the Fund to pay laborers' wages
and for keeping up estates until the crop
comes IN, his opinion is that if we administrate
the thing carefully. it could be done; and he
would further agree with honorable proponent
that when loans are granted for that purpose,
1t should be cheap loans, further it should be
possible for all interested in the immigration
Fund to obtain such assistance if they wanted
it and could afford it. He was then.not against
the principle of the proposal. But then the
loans should only be granted against good Sc
curity and they should be repaid quickly, be-
cause only in that way would it be possible to
secure the Fund against losses and to provide
that it be available for the main purposes for
which it was intended. If the Colonial Coun-
Gil agree, and to-dayin positive man ner shew
their desire to have the Fund employed as
now proposed; it would be necessary to pass an
Ordinance to that effect, and he would reserve
for the Government the time to consider the
terms of the Ordinance, and Of the rules accord.
ing to which the advances should be granted.
1t is not a matter to be hurried through; this
Fund is the only one belonging to the Island
and not invested, and 1t is absolutely necessa-
ry to consider carefully how it can be protect
cd against losses. 1t would not require any
very long time to decide upon the terms and
contents Of the Ordinance, but it is requisite
that not only he himself but also Members of
the Council must have some time to consider
the matter. He would repeat that while he is
not unfavourably disposed towards the appli-
cation now proposed to be made of the Immi-
grafton Fund, the matter would not be finally
decided to-day, he would first await a distinct
and clear notification of the Councils desire
and wish in that direction, before he could act
further; if opinions be divided, he would not
consider himself authorized to act further in
the matter.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country
District (BlackVOod): AS regards the bill, he
could quite understand the position of the pro-
ponent. The matter has now come forward
at the eleventh hour before the Council, be-
cause some estates feel the want of money, and
it is easy to see, that if the matter be not fur
thered quickly, it will be of no use to the
parties to be benefited thereby. We are natu-
rally, all of us jealous Of this immigration
Fund it is our resource from which to replen-
ish our labour force, whenever needed, this is
the primary design, and any purpose outside of
that lies beyond the intent. At the same time it
must be admitted that at present we have a sufd-
Gent number of labourers on the island; but
there are Estates suffering from wantof means to
occupy those labourers fully, and it would not
be an object quite so foreign to the original
intent to loan out the available funds for the
purpose of helping those who need pecuniary
assistance towards that object. But he must
certainly like to see the means of the Fund in-
vested securely and safely, and not lightly put
out, even for the purpose in question. The