90 Timeliri. 



tractors for ploughing have already appeared in considerable numbers — 

 the pioneeers in regard to motor tractors being two East Indian cultiva- 

 tors. Cane-farming by small owners or lessees has thus new prospects 

 and a brilliant future. 



The following extract from the report of the Sugar Section of this 

 movement is important : — 



" It was decided that under present conditions and prices the sugar 

 industry could absorb a reasonable number of immigrants annually, say 

 four to five thousand : and the Sub-Committee decided to recommend to 

 the Executive Committee that the most desirable immigrants were East 

 Indians, Mongolians, or Africans, in the order named, and it was essen- 

 tially necessary that these should be introduced in families. It was also 

 decided to ask the Statistics Sub-Committee to give the average wages 

 obtaining. So far as present conditions were concerned it was decided to 

 record that an able-bodied man working seven hours per day could earn $1, 

 while a woman with a lighter class of labour such as weeding, etc., working 

 similarly for seven hours could earn 40c. per day. It was also decided to 

 record that the majority of planters and employers were prepared to pro- 

 vide an improved type of labourers' cottages for the immigrants intro- 

 duced, each cottage to have an adjoining plot of land for provision cultiva- 

 tion." 



No doubt arrangements ean be made to provide employment all the 

 year round at above rates by co-operatieu of estates or by alteration of 

 system as sugar can, unlike the case of Cuba, be grown all the year round 

 in British Guiana. Even if this is not done co-operation of the sugar 

 interest with the balata, timber and rice interests could secure it for all 

 labourers. There must be unity of action. 



Rice. 

 15. The rice section of the movement reports that this industry 

 could employ 30,000 more people on the coastlands. The suitable area 

 is great ; all that is required is population. Owing to our relations with 

 Canada we could supply a large part of the rice which Canada now 

 obtains from non-British countries and with the proposed increase of 

 20% preference could eventual^ supply the whole. 



Ground Provisions. 

 16. The peasant farmer will find that his market possibilities will grow 

 with the demand for food by an increasing population. No class is more 

 interested in the future of colonisation. 



Othe i Coast Industries. 

 Time does not allow the Report Council to deal with these, but the 

 prospects of coconuts, cocoa, coffee and other products are excellent. 



Water Power. 

 17. While coal is not at present cheap an immense prospect is opened 

 up to the colony by the world's growiug realization of the value of water- 



