, 1891-03-28

lily of questions being raised on several points,
which he hoped to be able to explain satisfacto-
rily, as he felt that this was a very large un-
dertaking, affecting the Planting Industry ma
terially, and that the proposed Central Fac
tories would be practically unavoidable unless
they were beneficial to the planters. He
then invited a free and open discussion on
the subject.
The Chairman, seconded by Mr.. O. Nugent,
proposed that the Draft Memorandum be
read IN order that some who had had no OPP
portunity of reading it should have some
knowledge of it's contents.
Mr.. Bennett thought that only an imperfect
comprehension would be the result, and the
proper digestion of the details of such an i'm
portant matter would hardly be possible. He
therefore proposed as an amendment that a
Committee be appointed to read over, consider
and report upon the Draft Agreement, and
that this meeting be adjourned for the purpose
Of receiving their report.
The amendment was carried by o shew of
hands. Mr.. Bennett suggested that those who
had already read the document might comment
upon it now, but as this placed those who were
less privileged at a great disadvantage, it was
decided first to read over the Draft Agreement,
which provides that the planters shall sell and
the Company shall buy, the whole of the canes
~ ~ o0doOAS uuIihB Ine p0IIou AoA lOVA W
1898 inclusive.
The second clause provides that the crop
grown for reaping shall consist of certain pro-
portions of plant canes and ~rattoons. Such
crops to be grown by the Planters from plants
selected by him according to the best of his abb
lily, to produce Gin the mature cane the maxi
mum of sugar in proportion to the total bulk
of cane. And the Planter shall plant, supply
manure, tend, and cultivate each Of such drops
in a thorough and husbandman-Iike man
ner'' &c.
The Company are to erect a first class Cen
trail Factory capable of manufacturing into
vacuum pan sugar 800 tons of cane in each day
Of hours. And to complete the same by a
certain date; and maintain it in complete re-
pair during the whole term to be determined
upon. And the Company, subject to provisos
hereinafter contained shall convert into vacuum
pan sugar and other products usually derived
from the sugar cane, the crops of the Planter SO
bought by the Company.
The Company are to construct and equip q
railway connected with the factory, the estates
in the district, and with some point on the
sea coast convenient for shipping produce.
By clause 5, the Planter shall grant to the
Company free and without payment of rent,
exclusive use Of land for the purposes of the
railway, reserving to the Planter, his servants
and others authorized by MN, the right TO pass
over the said railroad and works, but SO as not
to do damage to or hinder the proper working of
the said railway &c.
Clause 6, provides that at the end Of the
term agreed upon, should the company contin-
ne to purchase and manufacture the cane crops
grown upon some of the ASSOCIATED Estates
(that is all the Estates in the neighbourhood of
the Factory with which the Company shall
have agreed as aforesaid), any of such who do
not contract within IL months for a renewal of
the agreement, shall if required by the Com
pany in writing, grant a continuance Of the
rights and privileges mentioned in clause 5
upon payment by the Company of an annual
rent for way leave, to be settled by arbitration;
but in the meanwhile the rights SO previously
granted to the Company shall be prolonged
and remain in full force.
Clause 7. THE price to be paid by the Com
pany to the PlaAter for the cane so to be pur-
chased from him as aforesaid, for each ton Of
cane shall be regulated by the gross value in
the New York Market of one cwt. of 112 lbs.
avoirdupois of refining centrifugal sugar of So
deg. polarization, and when such average
gross value is as stated in the first column
of the table below the price per ton of cane
shall be the price set opposite to such
average gross value in the second column of
the said table,"