Colonisation Scheme. 93 



Preliminary Note on Resolutions. 



It will be noticed that the resolutions embraced the undertaking of 

 large schemes of irrigation and drainage : 



(1) for the peasant farmers and small proprietors now living on im- 

 perfectly drained and irrigated lands on the foreshore of the three 

 counties of Demerara, Essequebo and Berbice ; 



(2) for any lands to be provided under any scheme of colonisation 

 from outside sources as an inducement to non-residents to come in to 

 settle ; 



(3) for any lands provided for local workers who have complied with 



similar conditions and who desire to settle. 



* 



This problem was one which the leaders of the movement stated at 

 the outset to be necessary to solve. Its solution was one in which every- 

 body was invited to contribute and the entire body of representative 

 opinion answered the invitation. 



General Principle. 



The general principle was enunciated as follows : — 



No colony funds or Crown lands are to be applied to furnish induce- 

 ments to work in connection with any industry, unless such inducements 

 are open on the same terms to the natives of the colony equally with any 

 persons (of whatever race) brought into the colony from other countries. 



Among the points emphasised were the following : — 



The undertaking of an organised colonial campaign of sanitation by 

 the united action of all our towus, villages and estates, the recognition of 

 the special engineering difficulties connected with municipal and rural 

 sanitation and the official invitation of expert assistance (such as that of a 

 sanitary engineer or of the Rockefeller Board in regard to those diseases 

 like ankylostomiasis and malaria, in which they specialise). 



The creation by Ordinance of one or more representative Central 

 Committees or Boards (1) to deal with disputes in connection with cane- 

 farming with the assistance of officially appointed test chemists ; (2) to 

 advise in each district in any disputes between capital and labour when 

 invoked by either party ; (3) to advise with authority on wages questions 

 after full investigation of the facts and conditions of employment in each 

 trade or industry ; (4) to watch the interests of both locally born and 

 new workers both as regards pay and land benefits. * 



The provision of regular and frequent steamer communications with 

 the British West Indies, British West Africa, India and other countries 

 from which a supply of colonists can be obtained and with which colonial 

 trade may be opened. 



* Vide Provisions of Immigration Ordinance of 1891, as to the fixing- of wages by 

 Magistrate. 



