96 



in aid of tlie Sugar Industry. It was recommended that if this sum 

 was to be re-imbursed an equivalent amount should be utilised to give 

 additional agricultural instruction. 



Mr deMercado asked if there was no possible way for the Imperial 

 Grant in air] of the Sugar Industry to be used in the same way as was 

 done in Barbados to help the Sugar planters to tide over their difficul- 

 ties. The Chairman said that the matter had been before the Gover- 

 nor in Privy Council several times and they had always decided against 

 any proposal to distribute the g'ant by direct gifts to planters. The 

 Chairman said that he thou-ht it better that t' ey should work on 

 more permanent lines to help the Sugar Indu>try; he was disposed to 

 favour the scheme submitted by the Island Chemist. 



It would be well to bear in mind that the Imperial Grant of £10,000 

 could not now be used for the direct financial assistance of the Sugar 

 estates and that the Government would not be prepartd to operate a 

 Sugar estate involving risks of loss. 



The scheme submitted by the Island Chemist set forth in detail a 

 proposal to extend local experiments on estates throughout the Island, 

 on cane varieties, manuring and in rum manufacture with a central 

 laboratory station at Hope. To secure efficient control over the local 

 experiments and the cane varieties grown at the Hope Experiment 

 Station a special Superintendent of experiments would be needed. The 

 laboratory should be equipped for the analysis of sugars, juices, rums 

 and estate materials from any sugar estate in ihe Island free of cost. 

 A special sugar and rum laboratory was estimated for and also a small 

 experimental fiistillery where crucial tests of rum manufacture could 

 be carried uut on a small practical scale with estate's materials spe- 

 cially brought in puncheons for the purpose. 



Mr. Fawcett said that with reference to his minute in reply to the 

 Chemist's scheme he wished his objections to the sugar distillery being 

 at the Laboratory at Hope to be put on record. He would also protest 

 against any proposal to place the Superintendent of Sugar Experiments 

 in charge of the Cane Cultivation at Hope. 



The Board, after full discussion, approved the scheme and decided to 

 recommend to the Governor in Privy Council to give effect to it as soon 

 as possible. 



The extension of the Laboratory was approved and it was decided to 

 recommend the appointment of a Superintendent of Sugar Experi- 

 ments. 



Mr. T. H. Sharp, Jun., Bachelor of Agricultural Science, of the Uni- 

 versity of Toronto was nominated for this office to be appointed for one 

 year at salary of £150 with £lL)0 reimbursement for travelling ex- 

 penses. 



The meeting adjourned. 



[Issued 20th April, 1904,] 

 Printed at the Govt. Printing Office, Kingston, Jam. 



