, 1891-05-20

u Cu1LIV&GKOU WOuIQ uOL nave DOGu one 0A1x
of what it is. When the next severe crisis
comes, and it may be nearer than we like to
think possible, will the richest shareholders in
the Limited Liability estates stand by the
weaker shareholders and pledge their purse
to keep the property out Of court. They may
do so, but it is not to be calculated upon; and
the effect OF certain large sugar properties
being suddenly brought to a standstill, their
employees thrown out of labour, and their
wages circulation suspended would be nothing
abort of q colonial calamity. It may he the
case that nothing but a big estate will pay in
British Guiaha, and that the amalgamftion Of
two, three or more small estates into ONE, Is a
matter Of necessary economy if the battle of
prices is to be fought successfully but we are
not just prepared to admit it withou ut demur.
As long as estates like Cove & John, Nismes,
Success, Bath and others we could name, re.
main standing proofs of the Possibility of
properties Of a moderate size pay ing, we shall
have reason for believing that an industrious
planter who knows his trade, is not above it,
and has financial liberty sufi Gent to enable
him to buy his stores in the cheapest market
and sell his produce in the dearest, will find
room enough yetto make hi mself a handsome
income and a comfortable bone. 1t would be
a pity if the amalgamation boyle were to
brighten young planters from attempting to
acquire their own sugar estates, for, at present,
through circumstances which we need not par
'ticularise, there are nearly q dozen sugar plan
.Eations in the market.
The extraordinary act of the Governor Of
Surinam, recorded in our Correspondents
notes, last week, in sending to Holland q
telegram for q supply Of rice Ond -four to
avert . famine which existed only in his own
imagination mas intensified the bitterness
WHICH for some time past has characterized
the relations between him and the great bulk
Of.tA@ business men of ~ParamaribO, the lat.
ter seeing in this stroke of policy q DELHI
rate attempt made to injure their business
and to create % feeling of ill-will and dis
hust between them and the populace.
Regarded in the most favourable light
which can be thrown upon ii, the Cover
nors action is reckless, extravagant and
provoking. Granted that he had been led
TO believe that there was q scarcity of pro-
visions in the colony and that the scarcity
was likely to become greater rs the year
advanced, his first thought when he came
to regard the question in q practical man
ner az Governor Of the colony, responsible
in a certain sense for the welfare of the
people, should have been to have consult
ed with the chief importers, from whom he
could have obtained reliable lists Of stock
on hand and stocks to arrive, with an
approximate table Of prices. IT after max
ing this enquiry he had found it necessary
and expsdient for the Government TO or
der 3 supply for the people, the smallest
exercise Of common sense would have
shown him that the safest way for the
Government TO proceed in such all unusual
line of buSineeS would be to give the order
70 . reputable house in the trade, Intimate
with the quality and price of the articles
most in demand, and able when the goods
arrived to distribute them, under such re-
S~tictions as to the retail prices as the Gov
eminent might think desirable, amongst the
Shopkeepers in town and country. 1t seems,
however, that he could net have made ell
Quiries, at all events in the proper quarters,
and that as q matter Of fact there has been
no scarcity OF provisions in Surinam, and,
even leaving out of the question the large
supplies coming on from Holland, no pro-
liability of a scarcity for a period as far In
70 the future az the most careful merchant
can see. The prices OF the chief items of
the peoples food are at nominal rates, and
any enhancement In the price of dOur
and rice 10 accounted for to the full, In the
higher prices at which these articles arc
now purchsseablo at the sources of supply.
The arrival of the large shipments OF
rice and four which the Governor has or
dered will upset the market to " mischie.
- A. y. -skA nnnh n nmnS6lu RNnws~H