Contracts with Cane Cutters. 299 



the system was a ruinous one for the estate, and it was 

 demoralising and unprofitable for the labourers. When 

 the price of sugar fell from about 5 cents a lb. in 1883 

 to 2^ cents in 1884, the produ6lion could only be 

 carried on at a loss under any circumstances. It was 

 decided to try to reduce the loss by improving the 

 system of cane cutting. Some time before a grinding 

 was contemplated, the cane cutters were called together 

 and the matter was put before them. They were asked 

 to enter into contra6ts with the estate to cut canes 

 for the grinding of three months. The stipulations of 

 the contra6l were that a bounty of $5 be paid to each 

 man on signing it, that the estate should provide him 

 with cane cutting when possible or weeding at current 

 rates if not, that each day a day's work be taken and com- 

 pleted, that work should be started on Monday in each 

 week and continued for five days, that the price of cane 

 cutting should be 24 cents for a cord of unburnt canes 

 8 ft. by 4 ft. by 4 ft., or 20 cents if the canes were 

 burnt. Hospital accommodation in case of sickness 

 was to be provided for the labourer during the time of 

 the contraft. 



At first the people would not listen to the pro- 

 posal, and it is doubtful if they would ever have done 

 so if it had not been for the advice given them by Mr. 

 J. E. Hewick who was at that time Sheriff of Essequebo. 

 He took a great interest in the lower classes and he 

 pointed out to the labourers the advantages these con- 

 tra6ts offered to them. Additional inducements were 

 held out to them in the shape of prizes from $50 down 

 to 2 shillings for those who earned the most money 

 during the term of the contra6ls. Eventually 47 men 



PP 



