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prospects in England and Canada, there was another advantage likely 

 to arise from the abolition of the bounties, and that was that the credit 

 of the sugar industry would be improved, but to what extent he could 

 not say. That was a question for commercial men to consider, but 

 speaking generally they could say now that continental bounties had 

 been removed the prospects of the sugar industry were better than 

 during any period within the last thirty years. 



He had consulted with Messrs. Watts and Cousins on the question 

 of the soil, and the opinion of these gentlemen was undoubtedly that 

 the soil in Jamaica was good and would grow canes as well as, if not 

 belter than,almostany other part of the West Indies. No doubt had been 

 cast upon the capabilities of the soil here. A s regards moisture in most 

 districts of the island the rainfall had been found to be sufficient to 

 bring fairly large crops. An important matter brought before the 

 Royal Commission in respect of irrigation in Vere was now being set- 

 tled, and if irrigation could be successfully applied to considerable areas 

 in Vere the sugar industry in that part of the island shoiiid be placed 

 on a prosperous footing As to the question of labour there might be a 

 great difference of opinion — the question depended upon the district in. 

 the island — but speaking generally be believed that labour in the sugar 

 districts in Jamaica was not very far short of what might be counted 

 upon as sufficient to carry on the industry, especially if use were made 

 of laboui-savingappliances and the many inventions that were now being 

 put into operation in the United States, British Guiana, Trinidad and 

 other parts of the tropics. They also had the possibility of coolie im- 

 migrntion. It might be said that coolie immigration was expensive 

 and often unsatisfactory, but still it was possible as a means of carry- 

 ing on the industry, and he believed that the Grovernment would place 

 no obstacle in the way of introducing more coolies if they were abso- 

 lutely necessary to c irry on the industry. As regarded natural facili- 

 ties and circumstances l.e thought Jamaica was extremely well placed. 

 As probably the proceedings at this Conference would be reported and 

 would reach capitalists in the United Kingdom, and other parts of the 

 world, it was iraporiant ihatthey should endeavour to place ou record 

 as many facts as they could, in order that those who were inclined to 

 embark in the sugar industry might be fully informed as regards the 

 capabilities and the circumstances vi this island. 



There were certain special conditions favourable to the maintenance 

 of the industry in Jamaica. Outside the banana districts there were 

 fairly large tracts of land still available for sugar cultivation, with good 

 soil and moderate rainfall. These were not only suitable for the cul- 

 tivation of sugar, but they had contiguous areas which were suitable 

 for feeding stock and raising food-stuffs. In some parts of the West 

 Indies these contiguous areas did not exist and thus difficu ty was ex- 

 perienced in obtaining fodder and in raising food-stuff ■;. 



It might be possible to extend cane-farming in certain districts of 

 Jamaica In Trinidad a large portion of the cane grown there « as 

 raised by small farmers. He found that in one locality heie — in West- 

 moreland, ou Cornwall Estate, — 1,5U0 tons of canes were bought from 

 settlers. On Shrewsburry Estate they had also been buying canes from 

 settlers. The question was in what way could cane-farming be ex- 

 tended in Jamaica ? The black people were fond of growing canes. 



