, 1912-03-16

and for the valuable present.
Mr. Moody Stuart then proposed then toast
of "rhe Planters of st. Kits who were con-
tributing canes to the Factory" coupling
with it the name of Mr. E. D. B.. Dobridge
Mr. Dobridge, in the course of a brief re-
ply, remarked that at last the Planters of st.
Kits had obtained the ful6lment of their
wish in the shape of the erection OF the Fac
tory; he was sure that it would prove OF
great benefit to the island, and be took the
opportunity OF Wishing the undertaking
every success.
Mr. r. A. Hardtman proposed the health
of "The Visitors, coupled with the name of
the Hopoura bic e.. du Boulay of st. Lucia.
He felt sure that everybody was gratiied to
see so many visitors from other islands pres
ent on the occasion, especially as many of
them represented kindred interests in other
parts of the West Indies.
The Hon. ID. du BOuIAy In the course OF
his reply thanked MI. Hardtman for his kind
words of welcome, and expressed his pleas
ure at being present on the occasion. Once
before he had had the opportunity of admir-
ing ST. Kits and the renewal Of the acqualn-
lance had increased his interest. The island
had been particularly favoured by nature,
and the provision of an up-to-date Central
Sugar Factory was sure to add materially to
their prosperity. Ia conclusion he tendered
his best wishes for the success Of the under
taking.
His Honor the Administrator asked that he
might be allowed to propose the health OF
"The Construction taft" He referred, he
said, to the band Of young men, mostly
Scotch, who had come far from ''their ain
folk at home" to erect the Fectory and do
the other work of the Company. They had
worked splendidly and had given our people
here an example OF what hard work was.
1t had been % pleasure to have them IN the
community, and he was glad to think that
they had been welcomed here as friends.
He coupled with the toast the name Of Mr.
Mark Moody Stuart, that ''pawky" young
Scot who had contributed SO much to the
success of the undertaking.
Mr. Mark Moody Stuart briefly replied and
said he had had a very good time in st. Kits,
Mr. Moody Stuart then proposed tho toast
of "Ihe Imperial Department of Agriculture
for the West Indies" coupled with the name
of the Hon'bie DR.. F.. Watts, c. e., Impe-
rial Commissioner of Agriculture. Il might
perhaps, seem strange to associate the work
of an Agricultural Department with machl-
merry, but DR. Watts had always adopted the
point of view that nothing concerning the
welfare of the sugar planters of the West
Indies was foreign to the work Of the I'm
perial Department of Agriculture. In the
old days he had as the result of persistent
effort succeeded in demonstrating the waste
full character of the old methods of manu-
featuring and IN pointing out the remedy.
His enleavours had eventually resulted III 3
the establishment Of the Antigua Factory.
Had it not been for the work Of the I'M
perial Department Of Agriculture in this di-
rectiou, he had no hesitation in saying that
the Antigua Factory would not have been
erected; and in the absence Of this pioneer
ing work he was confident that they would
not have witnessed the contamination of the
present undertaking in st. kits.
Dr. Watts, in his reply, soid that he was
extremely g~rati6ed that reference had been
made to the identification of the work Of the
Imperial Department of Agriculture with
the effort of procuring Sugar factories for
the West Indies. He recognised that it was
part of the functions of such u Department
to do all that lay in its power to encourage
the developments that tended to improve
matters connected with agricultural affairs
so closely as sugar factories are. He held
the view that one OF the important functions
of departments Of agriculture is to mould
and lead public opinion and to encourage
and foster what one thought to be sound
ideas lending to general progress. What