SECTION IV: WEST INDIAN SEA ISLAND 291 



consideration the difficulties arising from the unreliable character of Becom- 

 the labour and the higher rate of wages paid in the United States as f 16 ^ 6 ^ 

 compared with the West Indies, the latter should be in a more Indian 

 favourable position for carrying on a successful cotton industry, p an ers< 

 provided that a suitable selection is made of the localities for cotton - 

 growing, and the planters become fully acquainted with the conditions 

 necessary for success.' 



' It has been shown that the quality of the cotton produced in the 

 West Indies is quite as good as the better sorts grown in South 

 Carolina, and it is believed that it may be possible, by adopting 

 skilful and economical methods of cultivation, and introducing 

 labour-saving appliances in the ginneries, for cotton from the West 

 Indies to be delivered at Liverpool at probably less cost than from 

 any part of the Sea Island districts of South Carolina.' 



These views were more than confirmed by the results communi- Con- 

 cated by Sir Daniel Morris in his address to the West India firme< *- 

 Committee on July 19, 1906, and subsequently on August 29, to the 

 British Cotton-Growing Association at Manchester. Sir Daniel 

 narrated the circumstance of his having personally secured in the 

 Sea Islands a supply of the very best Sea Island cotton seed and Seed . 

 conveyed that to the West Indies. On the occasion of the last 

 mentioned lecture Mr. J. E. Barlow asked whether there was any 

 hope of the West Indies producing other types of cotton than the 

 Sea Island. Sir Daniel replied that they were fully alive to the 

 necessity of not producing too much of the finest class of cotton, and 

 were carrying out experiments with the object of getting more body 

 and substance into it. More recently Mr. J. Arthur Hutton, Vice- 

 President of the Council of the British Cotton-Growing Association, 

 addressing a meeting on January 18, 1907, of planters and others 

 assembled at Barbados, said that during the past three or four years 

 about 15,000 bales of Sea Island cotton had been produced in the Produc- 

 West Indies, and but for that fact many Lancashire mills would be ^^t in 

 idle at the present moment. Sir Daniel Morris, at a previous Indies, 

 meeting also held at Barbados, warned the planters not to be carried 

 away by the high prices ruling at present. Cotton from Barbados, 

 he added, had fetched 28d. a pound, but less than half would still West 

 leave the cotton -growers a profit. Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland quo t a . 

 (Jan. 7, 1907) observe that West Indian Sea Island has been in t"> ns - 

 good demand and prices have been firm. All arrivals had been freely 

 taken at advancing rates. Medium fine is quoted in Liverpool at 



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