, 1891-06-17

mlttee had concluded Its work ana had render
ed it's report to the Council for its approval or
rejection. We had therefore, at that ~iuncture
where the Committee was proposed, only had a
partial discussion on the Draft OF Budget,
when a member proposed to the Council to ap-
pointa Committee to offer retrenchments of
the public expenditure, the present and the
future. Well, the Committee has fulfilled its
duty but the Report failed to come before
the Council. AS far as he understands the
Colonial Law, no discussion can take place be-
fore the Report has been brought be-
fore the Council, when a Committee has been
at work. It seemed to him that the Commit
tee having been elected by the Council should
have been thoroughly upheld by the Council.
The Committee has spent time, and valuable
time in getting through the work allotted to
it; the Committee makes no opposition
for the sake of opposition, but we oppose,
unnecessary expenditure and recommend ne
cessary and feasible reductions for the benefit
of the Island. He therefore must contend
that the Committees Report must come before
the Council in it's entirety and along with
the subject matters with which it deals and
has had to deal. The items founded on Royal
Resolutions, and the like, are, as we are aware,
not subject for vote under this form but the
proposals on headings of that kind are so in
= WONCA WILL DLOpOboAo " NANSN
the present system of public organisation, that
the two classes Of proposals cannot be dis
iointed they must be together for a proper
understanding and a proper basis of operatlon.
If now we were to discuss only the Budget and
we as a natural consequence would have to
touch on the present organisation with detec-
tive sides and at the same time point to the
improvements or alterations suggested tor the
future; we would when we have so discussed
both classes have nothing left for con-
sideration and discussion, when we turn
to the other item on the order of day, the
Memorial. It is so, that when the Bud
get passes the Council, the Committee Report
exists no more, and another Report must come
forward. If however, the matters be discussed
under one, we gain that much, that the Report
answers for both purposes. This view he
based upon the Councils Rules OF business. The
speaker Of the Committee must bring in the
Report in its entirety, and then it has to be
discussed, if necessary, and accepted or re-
iected by the Council. This privilege has hi
therto not been granted. But as already stated
the Council has a right to forward petitions; if
the Government be not competent to express
their views to US, we are at all events cOmpe-
tent to express ours in the legal form. The
present matter is one of vital importance to tho
Community; we see the deficiencies of our pub
lie administration increasing every year with
upwards of S 100, 900; no intelligent man can sec
the possibility ofpaying such an increasing liza
bility yet the community is held responsible
we can not be honest to the community, to
those we represent and to ourselves, if we quiet
ly allow that state of things to continue with
out some effort at remedying it what we can
achieve by our vote, we must certainly do the
rest we must ask the Home Government to do;
he believed too that the Home Government
would be but too glad to see where retrench-
ments can be eff cted if we cannot come at
some result in that way, the end will simply
be confscation of property by taxes to meet
the debt and to defray the current expenses.
1t is said that we cannot expect that the Home
Government shall continue p'ying for us; we
do not expect that we have but our resources
to depend on; Sugar production is the only
staple we have ; but we see the whole world
almost one sugar growing field we must go
behind them all necessarily, if we cannot by dlnt
of perseverance hold our own; but that we can
not do when heavily pressedhy enormous debts
and enormous taxation, Everybody would ike
to see this beautiful little colony Aourishing, so
that we may have not only enough for our
selves, when we spend our capital, our energy
and all our talents on it, but that we may have
something also to leave to our children, who
may bless their parents and feel themselves too
bound and tied to this little place. But if we
continue as heretofore. what will be the sure