274 



His Excellency said that as no other gentlemen appeared to be desi- 

 rous of speaking he thought it might be taken for granted that those 

 present were in accorl with the statements made by Sir Daniel Morris, 

 Mr. Fawcett, and Mr. Cousins. If that was the case it seemed to him 

 that there was a hopeful outlook. He thought that from what Sir 

 Daniel Morris had told them there was a decided reason to think that 

 they might look for improvement in the re?ults of the sale of cane 

 sugar, and al<o that cane sugar could be cultivated in Jamaica with a 

 great deal of advantage. That being so he could only express the 

 sincere hope that there would be a great revival of sugar growing 

 here, and that they might see an increase in the number of acres under 

 cane cultivation. He knew that when he was in British Gaiana he 

 was always told there that all the sugar planters wanted was a fair 

 field an'! no favour and that if the bounties were done away with they 

 felt certain that they could compete on equal terms with beet sugar 

 and defeat it If those statements were correct, which he had no reason 

 to doubt, it seemed to him that those connected with, the sugar in- 

 dustry might well feel hopeful, and what Mr. Gramble hod told them 

 of the recent rise in prices should certainly encourage the sugar plan-, 

 ters here. If no one present had anything further to say they might 

 consider that the meeting had come to an end, and he took it that the 

 feeling of the meeting was decidedly in accord with the speeches that 

 had been made. (Cheers,) 



After His Excellency had conveyed the thanks of the meeting to 

 Sir Daniel for his address, Sir Daniel said he wished he had lutd time 

 to have placed a fuller statement before them. Nevertheless he hoped 

 that this meeting of the sugar planters of Jamaica woull lead them to 

 consider whether the circumstance of sugar planting was not of so 

 promising a character as would justify them making a great effort to 

 improve the condiiion of the industry. He believed that the circum- 

 stances were favourable and that the industry could not only be main- 

 tained but could also be extended. It was an important industry from 

 many standpoints. A great feature connected with it was that nearly 

 all the expenses were disbursed in the form of wages to labourer.^ and 

 tradesmen. It was claimed for this industry that there was no other 

 that spent so large a proportion of money in labour. A prosperous 

 sugar industry would also mean a prosperous pen-keeping industry. 

 The sugar industry and cocoa and other industries were essential in 

 order to plac'- the circumstances of the island in a stable condition so 

 that if anything happened to one industry the others should be able 

 to take its place It was not safe to depend alone on a flourishing 

 banana industry. It was necesmry that a flourishing sugar industry 

 and flourishing cocoa, coffee and other industries should also be main- 

 tained in the island. 



The proceedings then ended. 



