, 1916-11-18

lance at fires and no one compelled to do
it, how would he get an insurance.; the IN
surance companies would refuse making
out any policies. When the hon. Member
is speaking of the big towns, he must re-
member, that there the fire corps consist
of trained people, taken at q certain age,
they are trained daily and have no other
occupation than being in the fre-brigade.
Such a brigade we cannot afford to have.
A law cannot be given for special people,
special classes. In st. Thomas | have seen
several fires, there this law is in force. We
are going too far, When we look at every
law as aiming at O certain class. If the
people knew, that the law of 1868 had the
obligations, they would not have made
such a cry. 1t is not q new law. 1t is q
similar law as in st. Thomas and in the
Mother Country.
As long as our burdens are so light, we
should not complain of such small obliga-
tons. There is a lot of people that never
pay one cent in taxes, the money is not
falling from Heaven but from taxes.
3rd Grown Member (Pretto). [ have lis.
tened very carefully to the hon. Chairman.
/ have had the opportunity of hearing the
people express themselves. [ believe, if an
agreement could be reached between the
Labour Union and the Council, the matter
would be settled to satisfaction.
End Member for Christiansted Town
(Canegdta(. [ believe the Draft would be
more acceptable, if the people got some
compensation for their assistance.
1sh Member for Frederiksted Country
District (Weming). l believe, we would
then have fire every night.
3rd. Member for Christiansted Country
District &C. E. Lee0y). I am very sorry
to hear the Hon. Crown Member mix up
the Labour Union with the Council. do
not think, the Eabour Union nor any one
else has a right to threaten. This is a
wrong way to settle the matter; it is a pro-
motion of ill-feeling, which the hon. Grown
Member is favouring I believe we meet
here to make laws. [ agree with the hon.
Chairman.
Here it is a crime, if you ask a man to
help you against fire. If the whole Island
burns down, what then?. When a fire is
announced let the people help and when
the fire is out a roll is called, and it can
be found out who have met.
3rd Crown Member (Pretto). [ thought
it woule be more conducive to a settle
ment.
1st. Member for Frederiksted Town
(CouHer) 1t is very interesting to have
heard the Secretary. It is the first Draft
in this Council without remarks.
1t seems, this Draft has been caused by
O fire at Bethlehem.
It was embodied in 1868 and we have
been working very we'll since then; no
steps for compulsion have been taken all
this time, why now, when the ~circumstan-
ces are SO uncertain What took place at
Bethlehem may be due to special circnm-
stancs between the labourers and the con-
Germ at that time.
Let us hope, it will appeal to the labour-
ers, that they have not shown q behaviour
they ought to have shown.
We hear very little out here about duties
and responsibility. Take for instance the
CONSUMPTION, this place cannot speak of
such burdens except the militia. The hon.
Chairman has formerly from his seat spo-
ken of abolishing the Militia and use the
money for the Fire Brigade. [ agree with
hon. End Member for Christiansted Town
(Canegata), that the people ought to have
som compensation. But let me say. what
is my opinion, it is the most unfavourable
time Government has chosen ito bring in
this Draft, when there is a friction i'll the
Island, and the conditions existing are SO
uncertain. We are very shortly on the
eve of a transfer, I think we had better