, 1914-04-08

Chairman could feel himself as being well off.
Concerning the matter itself, he would
say, that when 8 private person WAS conald-
8ring the enlargement of his business, he
would beforehand balance the advantage
and risk against one another. This same
consid GRAFTON could be applied in the pre-
sent case. He, the Speaker, did not dare
deny, that such an enlarged experiment
station could be of great benefit for the
Planters of the Island, but he would main
tain, that neither from the Majority nor
from anybody else q single convincing
argument had been set forth proving that
such an enlarged station is a necessity, or
more to the purpose than the proposal OF
the Minority tending to the maintenance OF
the present Station in connection with ez-
periments on the different estates.
On the other hand, the risk is certain
Concerning this he would only refer to the
report of the Minority and especially call
the attention to one point IN 1t, namely the
remark about the unforeseen circumstances,
that might increase the risk. 1t seems as II
in all calculations on agricultural matters
out here, there are some unknown factors,
that crush all calculations, SO that the re-
suit is always a loss. Finally the moment ia
not well chosen, now when, 20 to say, q con-
slant drought makes experiments on a large
scale impossible.
The drought also influences the revenues
of the Colonial Treasury.
Therefore, tie Minority holds the opinion,
that the enterprise is not urgent and very
risky, so that there may be a fair chance Of
the Colonial Treasury suffering q loss, which
the Minority would not like to experience
The Colonial Treasury may be COM
pared with a not quite young lady we'll
off, surrounded by lovers, trying to get hold
Of her means. One of the worst Of these Is
the agriculturiss. If she is unaware of this
beforehand, then let her only ask her sister,
the State Treasury, that has dearly bought
experiences in this respect
The Colonial Treasury ought therefore to
be guarded against loss, and if the Planters
wish "A larger station, then let them use their
own money, in this case, the Immigratlon-
fund, to go in search of adventures.
He, the Speaker, would not advise them
to do so, for the drought might cause catas-
trophies, when it would be good to have az
many funds at hand as possible, but on the
other side, the Speaker, would not try to
prevent them.
The Vice. Chairman (Ru6ner-P etersen)
would now let the discussion be open, but
st the same time ask the hon, Members tc
be short.
3rd Member for Christiausted Country
District (LeegU would be as short rs posi-
BILE. The Chairman Of the Comm t4e said,
that none of us had given any proof for the
necessity Of charging the Sutton. He. the
Speaker, would try to answer this. 1t was
so self evident to him that when we had a
small area, we could not depend and reckon
on the outcome of the different cultiv@tions,
but when we had q large area, we could
clearly see the benefit of the different euIti-
y%ations.
The Chairman (halme) now returned and
took the Chain.
His Exce!lency The acting Vice. Governor
(Baun10en) said, that it appeared from the
report that all the members of the committee
were more or less in favour of an extension.
1t was 50, however, that when Government
took up this matter, it was understood, that
the management of the extended station
would show q surplus, calculated at about
13, 900 Frcs. this would have been sufficient
to pay interest on the amount invested and
some iustalment, and we could have left it to
the future how to decide about an eventual
deficit due to extraordinary circumstances.
1t would be the same authorities as now,
that would have to decide about the deficit.
But now, since we had received the Commit