92 Timehri. 



equipment and the creation of a special Sub-Committee to deal with West 

 Indian and African immigration and labour supply. Finally it proposed 

 the despatch of a Colonial deputation to England. 



The Executive Committee was received that afternoon most sympa- 

 thetically by His Excellency Sir Wilfred Collet, K.C.M.G., who has since 

 in person or by his officers afforded every assistance in the ascertainment 

 of all the essential facts. 



The Combined Court on 5th February passed the following resolu- 

 tion with a single dissentient vote (The discussion had been initiated by 

 the Senior Unofficial member, Hon. A. B. Brown) : — 



" Whereas there are in the colony over nine million acres easily 

 accessible for beneficial occupation and suitable for tropical cultivation ; 



" And whereas the total area is about fifty-eig ht million acres ; 



" And whereas the actual cultivation is about 200,000 acres ; 



"And whereas there is in the colony insufficient labour to carry on 

 its various industries ; 



" And whereas this insufficiency of labour has led to a reduction of 

 the area under sugar-cane, and will lead to a further reduction : 



" This Court respectfully requests the Governor to make arrange- 

 ments to send to the United Kingdom a deputation consisting of mem- 

 bers of various races in the colony, with the view of laying before His 

 Majesty's Government a representation of the needs of the colony both for 

 the maintenance of present industries and for their extension ; and to 

 show the advantages which this colony affords to immigrants from other 

 countries. 



" And this Court pledges itself to provide the funds necessary for 

 sending such a deputation, the work of which is to be based on the lines 

 to be recommended by the General Colonisation Committee appointed at 

 the conjoint meeting held in the Royal Agricultural and Commercial 

 Society's Rooms on 29th January subject to the acceptance of the same 

 by His Excellency Sir Wilfred Collet, K.C.M.G." 



The General Colonisation Committee met next day and appointed 

 numerous Sub-Committees which were invited to report within two 

 months so as to enable the entire situation to be reviewed by a Proposal 

 and Finance Sub-Committee of some 30 leading members. This review 

 engaged the Sub-Committee for nearly four hours on Saturday, 5th 

 April, and the following resolutions were passed unanimously except for 

 a single dissentient in one instance. 



Mr. T. Greenwood (Chairman), Hon. F. Dias and Mr. H. E. Murray 

 were charged as a Report Council with the presentation of the resolutions 

 along with an explanatory Report to the General Colonisation Committee 

 on Saturday, 12th April. The Secretary of the Royal Agricultural and 

 Commercial Society acted as draftsman. 



