88 Timehri. 



thought such a scheme feasible shows how limited the original stock of 

 knowledge was, but it is too late for reproaches now. Nobody who ever 

 studied the question expected anything but the actual result The possi- 

 bilities of a metre gauge line starting from Georgetown passing up the 

 right Bank of the Demerara River crossing the Essequebo on the ledge of 

 rock near the Siparuni mouth and reaching the savannahs by the Burro 

 Burro river valley in touch with the contemplated Brazilian line from 

 Manaos, are quite another subject of investigation. But pending the 

 ascertainment of the data we can only speculate. 



With these preliminary observations I now declare the subject open 

 for discussion, viz. : " Whether the colony can be developed without fresh 

 taxation." I hope the speakeis will remember that the Government alone 

 cannot do everything and that it is only by the loyal and friendly 

 co-operation of everybody in the colony, Government, Legislature and 

 people, that our problems can be solved. I may mention that an increase 

 of our present revenue by seven percent, from any cause would mean a 

 return of something over £40,000 or enough on a normal or even on the 

 present market, to secure a development loan of one million sterling. 



The Discussion. 



His Excellency : I am sure we shall be glad to hear the opinions 

 of any person on this most important question. I see many well-known 

 faces of prominent citizens here. I hope we shall be able to hear their 

 views. 



Mr. E. G. Woolford, who was received with applause, said it was 

 characteristic of the acting President, so early after his occupation of the 

 chair, that he should so quickly vitalise the affairs of the Society 

 by the debate of a subject which was pregnant with interest to every 

 member of the community. It was sadly characteristic of the apathy 

 displayed in the colony with regard to public affairs that no one had 

 ventured to speak upon the subject. He had also gathered in his small 

 experience that there were a good many in the community who were 

 always willing to say : " Let the colony be developed," " Advance 

 Guiana," and to use similar catch phrases ; but very few were able to 

 suggest the means by which that development could best take place. For 

 his own part he would take this opportunity of calling attention to the 

 system of taxation that prevailed. He regarded it as unfair, unjust and 

 inequitable to what he might term the submerged tenth of the co'ony. 

 He considered that whilst as inhabitants of the colony they should all 

 try to further in every possible way its progress and development, they 

 needed to recognise that it could not be obtained without increased 

 measures of taxation, having regard to the limited nature of the popula- 

 tion. And in the absence of any grand colonising scheme, in order to pay 

 for the additional expense attendant upon any large development of that 

 character, such as a railway project,- it meant that the present population 

 would have to bear the burden. It was with regard to that statement of 

 affairs that he would direct His Excellency's attention. In his opinion 



