Vol. XVIII. No. 43:. 



THE AGIIICULTURAL NEWS, 



l<> 



tural fu-aa-e of the w.-,rld. For, as is well known, most 

 oi" the root crops ot the tropics are capable of produc- 

 incr large proportions of starch, while even the waste 

 products of the sugar-cane factory are capable of pro- 

 ducing quantities of alcoho:. 



In concliisior, wich .'■cience directing the agricul- 

 ture" of the future, and skill, economy, and energy 

 co-operating iu it.? pursuit, there is no reason to fear 

 that the reorganization of the world's agricultural 

 resources will in sry respect fall short of the result 

 iioped for. 



PROFIT-SHARING IN A WEST INDIAN 

 S JGAR FACTORY. 



In pff-senting the rf-port of the liirectors to the <:>rdinary 

 general meeting of the Ste. Madeleine Sugar Company. Ltd., 

 held on November 21, 191S, the Chairman, Mr. G. Moody 

 Stuart, gave an interesting sketch of some proposed develop- 

 ments in the future working of the lompany. 



He first alluded to the difficulties which had been 

 experienced in the past season in Trinidad, owing to shortage 

 in the cane crop. This was attributed generally to the 

 ravages ef the frog-hopper. On the other hand, it appeared 

 as if the damage had been mainly due to excessive rainfall, 

 causing injury to the canes in many ways, especially in 

 keeping the subsoil in a water-logged condition, conducive to 

 root disease. The cane crops on the lands belonging to the 

 company were much less damaged than those on some 

 neighbouring estates, the explanation given being the good 

 work done during the last four years to improve the 

 condition of the land on the company's property. 



The great increase in the cost o! production was noted 

 as a matter for grave concern. In spite of this and of the 

 short crop, the Directors, owing to the present high prices for 

 sugar, were able to declare a dividend to the shareholders. 



The most interesting portion to the public, apart from 

 shareholders, is the part of ;Mr Moody Stuarts speech 

 dealing with proposed future improvements in the transac- 

 tions of the factory with three groups of employees. 



The first group is that of cane farmers; that is, those 

 -ivho grow cane on small hnldings fr.r sale to the factories. 

 There are 7,000 of these growing cane for the Ste. Madeleine 



factory. 



The system in Trinidad of regulating the price of such 

 cane has never been satisfactory. The Antigua method is 

 the fairest, basing the cane price always on the value of 

 su«ar, and it has been decided to adopt it at Ste- Madeleine, 

 with ati adjustment to cover the difference between the 

 quality of tlie cane, and conditions of delivery in Antigua and 

 those in Trinidad. In Antigua the peasants' cane rate i.s 

 4\ per cent, on the value of sugar delivered on board ship, 

 but the quality of the cane there is 1 T per cent, better than 

 in Tri-nidad, and in Antigua the factory is free from certain 

 charges which it has to bear in Trinidad. To cover these 

 differences, the terms at Ste. .Madeleine are made ih per cent, 

 on the value of the sugar delivered on board ship, less 

 charges for export duty, shipping, bagging, and also of trans- 

 port'of the cane. With this adjustment' the two companies will 

 be placed on equivalent terms. T'.ie price irt the past 

 season on this basis works out at 16y. per ton in.-tead of 14.^., 

 which means an alditionil payment of £7,94S 13j-. ia. 



distributed a.nong th' cane farmers of .>te. Madeleine this 

 year, and it will probably mean a much bigger difference to 

 them next year. This will assuredly lead to contentment 

 among them, and prove an encouragement te develop the 

 indn.Htry. It may be added that, while the Antigua cane 

 is 17 per cent, belter thin the Trinidad, one can raise a 

 .")0 per cent heavier crop per acre in Trinidad and with less, 

 labour. So the Trinidad farmers have a big advantage. 

 Whh help and guidance they will be able to get much 

 heavier crops from their land, and so become a very pro.sperouu 

 community. 



The next group with regard to which a new departura 

 is proposed is the stati' at hte. .Madeleine. 



It is proposed that they shall participate in the profits^ 

 and that their share should be calculated on the following 

 basis. From the profits of each year there will be first 

 deducted £1 per ton on the sugar produced, as a minimum 

 lor the shareholders, or a sum sufficient to cover the present 

 dividend if the £1 per ton does not suffice, and that then 

 10 per cent, of what remains be devoted for the benefit of 

 the staff. It is felt that in prosperous years they .should 

 share in the prosperity to which they have contriimted^ 

 'They are loyal workers. Mr. Moody Stuart said, 'and takes 

 an interest in their work, but now we are going to ask theni 

 also to take an interest in a double sense of the word, in the 

 profit that comes from their work. All, from those in the 

 humblest positions to those at the top, can help to increase 

 the profits, sometimes, by guarding against waste of time or 

 material, sometimes by suggesting better methods, or it may- 

 be by helping in some other way, and we may be sure that 

 by hearty co-operation and determination to watch the- 

 company's interests, the work will get better and better.' 



The final group, a very large one, whose interests are 

 being studied at Ste. Madeleine, are the labourers. 



AVith regard to the large majority of these, employers 

 have not had the full responsibility until recently. They 

 were indentured coolies, and the Government laid down rules 

 as to the pay to be given them, their housing accommodation,, 

 their hospital and medical requirement-s. Employers had' 

 simply to do what they were told. But the indentures have 

 been running ou;, and the people, instead of returnina to 

 India, have been staying in the island as free labourers, and 

 very soon there will be nothing but free labourers; and the res- 

 ponsibility of caring for their proper housing, for their health, 

 and their interests in every way devolves on those employing 

 them- It will involve, at least at first, some considerable 

 expenditiue in excess of what has had to be paid under the 

 Government nigime. for more must be done than has been . 

 done in the past, if their conditions of life are to be rendered 

 such as they ought to be. 



What is wanted is bettor housing, better provision for 

 maintaining health, and to make the conditions of their life 

 as good as possible — ^.iust the things that the nation at home 

 is striving after. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Mr. H. A. Ballon. M. Sc, Entortiologist on the staff 

 of the Imperial Itepartinent of Agriculture, returned to- 

 Barbados on January L*^, after a visit to Ctrenada. 



Mr. (i. A. Jones, Assistatit Curator and Assistan'. 

 ( hemist Agricultural I)epartiiient. Dominica, ha.s 

 resigned this post, and has accepted a po.sition on tin; 

 staff of the Ste. Madeleine Stigar (,'ompany. Trinidad^ 



