, 1891-06-06

der the Budget, and he would refer to what had
been expressed by a Member of the Council
on a previous stage, that it is not the intention
to oppose Government, he would say we
should never oppose merely for the sake Of
opposition, where O public interests require
or demandit, where no benefit to the Gem
munity can be gained. He would not consi-
der it wise Of the Council to oppose the
request made in the Governments letter; it
could only be a waste of time, to no benefit
at all. He would always advocate opposition
wherever interests of the Community are at
stake; but where there is no use at all in
opposition we should abstain. Moreover we
do the cause some ham in the eyes of those at
no me, with whom we have to deal. The
Colonial Council is not any Oppositionql Party
to the Government; the Colonial Council is
no parliament or grand legislative Body,
invested with far reaching Legislative power,
but more of a consultative Body, invested with
a limited legislative power. Wherever there
Is a public interest at stake we must oppose;
but always refrain when W can do no good.
With these remarks, he would recommend the
Governments proposal in the letter to-day for
adoption by the Council.
The Acting Vice Governor would to the
remarks that had fallen from the Honorable
Vice Chairman, only add, that Government did
not request that the Committees Report in its
entirety should be excluded from the discus
sion on the Draft of Budget, but only such
parts of it which referred to the proposals for
future reforms in the administration of the
island. The reason why Government request
ed this was that it had no authorization to dis
cuss these reforms with the Council and could
therefore not be represented in the Council dur
ing such a discussion. Such parts of the Com
r1it+aa'c PoOo1+ urbiob rafaTCad +O tho opoapd--
ments proposed by the Committee to the
Draft of Budget, did of course belong to the
discussion on the Draft, as they concern the
Draft of Budget itself.
End Member for Frederiksted:s Country
District (Blacklrood) said he fully understood
the desire of the Government, and it had his
full sympathy but he was sorry to see the
split in the Committee in reference to the
suggestion made by the Government. Under
the present circumstances, when only two
members Of the Committee are present to-day
in the Council, and most of the other members
are new Members of the Council who could
scarcely be expected to be acquainted with
the bearings of the questions that will arise,
he would beg to propose that the discussions
be postponed to next meeting.
The Vice Chairman explained, that the lst
discussion on the Draft must be closed, and
according to Law 2nd discussion can not come
on before 6 times "a hours after the LIST;
but at the same time the Council may with
a qualified majority of at least ! of the votes,
and provided the Governor consents, decide
on a deviation from the rule III that respect
but if the Council will not proceed TO the End
discussion at once, the Draft must be referred
for End discussion on a future occasion.
End Member for Frederiksted's Country Dis
trict (BJackwOod) said there is reason to be-
lieve from all the facts before us, that the
matter will not be handled sufficiently to the
purpose if we go to 2nd discussion now and as
it is highly important that these matters be tho
roughly sifted and considered, he could not
see that it would be right to proceed to End
discussion now, but we ought rather to post
pone it to a later period, say the next meeting.
End Member for Christiansted's Country
District (Lunny) seconded that proposal.
After a respite of 10 minutes the Council
convened again.
The Vice Chairman closed first discussion on
the Draft of Budget with Money Bills, as no
one desired the word further.
The Draft passed to End discussion, and it
was unanimously adopted with s votes none
against) not to proceed to 2nd discussion.
At the suggestion of End Member for Ere
deriksted's Country District (BlaekOood) it
was also adopted to postpone the discussion
on the proposal for a Memorial to the Minister
sub No. Z on Order of Day and furthermore
fho+ tho 00d dicoJ,ccio0 on +bo p,,Joof shall ho