, 1916-03-25

Save US AIOm u CuIuully1 us hIS GACO'ichGN
remarked, l should be happy, but | am afraid
the calamity is not avoided.
] do not agree with His Excellency with
regard to the great increase in income for
the Treasury from the export duty. 1t is
not alone sugar, but the cotton has also
yielded q great income to the Treasury; this
culture Is now doomed, and it will be neces-
sary for the Plantation Company, like many
others to stop all cultivation both in East
End ard on the North Side estates. What
has been demanded from US will ruin the
whole Island and Turn it into bush aud stock
estates; as I hardly can believe any planter
will run the risk of putting land again in
sugar cultivation. We have had no support
from people home in Denmark, there they
Only think of pork, eggs and butter, but
sugar they have no idea about or care for.
1t was a lucrative business to be a planter
foE so years ago, it is far from it now. For
the last 6 or Z years the planters hive run
in uebi, and at the same time he wages for
the abourers have increased with 2J-25M,
and now when the Planters ought to have a
little satisfaction for their losses, the ignorant
people here md al home give them their
dealh-blow.
l will recommend we vote for the reduc-
ton of the import duty on c%ornmeai; wheth-
we spend %, 900 Frcs. or more will m Ike no
difference. l am afraid the iabuurers are
making up a bed for themselves to lie down
upon much harder than before.
2nd member for Christianeted Town
(Cdne9atd). I am sure we all appreciate
His Excellency's work i'll bringing this dis
pute to q close.
But may I ask, how does His Excellency
propose TO cover the deficit in the Budget;
aud if the first proposal is granted, who is to
be charged with the distribution OF the
5000 FIcs.?
His ExcelIencv the Governor (HeiDeq-
LdrSen). In the Draft of Budget the hon.
Member will see there is q balance, and we
may expect rs, 900 Frcs. more than estimated
Oh The export duty owing to The good crop.
With regard to the $4,000 Frcs. no detail
ed rules have been framed. 1t is not the in
tention to pay out the amount during the
crop, first by the end, when it can be seen,
how many days every cane cutter has worked.
| shall further say, IN case you should de-
eide to vote for The second proposal, that
cornmeal at present costs Acts a ID. In case
we do away with the import duty, the peo-
pie can buy IA ounces for 8 cts., and 3 Tbs:
for 10cis., which for the poor man means u
considerable reduction. You may ask, how
to control the price, that can be taken over
by the Committee sitting fol the ~fxation Of
prices on food>tuffs.
2nd Member for Christiansted Town
(Canegata). Although | am not a merchant
I think from the removal of the duty, which
is o. 22cts. q b., there will be little benefit
to the people. His Excellency said it would
be possible to sell 3fbs. for 1Octs, but the
poor man who want one lbs. of corpmeal
will not find it so easy to pay 10cts. for 3bs.
l know for certain, that you Gun obtain at
present 2 TBS. for-7cts, and the cost of a bag
of meal of 1876 lbs. runs from $50 to $40 on
which the duty is Acts. | do not see,
therefore, how by the removal of the duty;
the retail price can be lower than at present;
but can only benefit the merchant.
His Excellency the Governor (Helweg-
LARSEN. The hon. Member said he was
not a merchant, and I have consulted with
two merchants. and I prefer listening to their
advice than to one who was not a merchant.
2nd. Member for Christiansted Town
(C~anegata). 1 am not at all offended, that
His Excellency should prefer following the
advice of two merchants. but / think, that
common sense also has a right to be listened
to and should be considered:
The Chairman (~Stdkenamn) His Excel
lecy said, that the Budget showed n balance;
M, thoru will ha a 1ot of Additional Mooov