424 TiMEHRI. 



introdu6lion of families from the Islands but the diffi- 

 culty was that they would not come to stay, but as they 

 made a little money, looked to go back. 



The President said he was in favour of the principle 

 of the motion but did not think the funds of the Society 

 should be spent in such a way, they might however ask 

 the Government to allow them a grant for such an ex- 

 periment. The Barbadians could not be got to remain ; 

 they came and went, getting home-sick as soon as they 

 had a little money saved. Some were so pleased with 

 an estate that they returned to it after a visit to Bar- 

 bados but they would not settle down altogether. If 

 they introduced 5,000, two-fifths of them would go 

 away by the end of the year. In regard to what he 

 said at the last meeting about indentured immigrants 

 performing such few tasks, this was greatly due to the 

 aftion of certain officials in making themselves counsel 

 for them ; this prevented necessary discipline, and 

 nothing but a vagrancy law would prevent it. He was 

 well within the mark in saying that the labourers in the 

 villages worked only 150 days in a year. He thought 

 that great credit was due to Mr. Davis for the interest 

 he took in this matter and he would vote for a motion to 

 ask the Government for $1,000 to try the experiment. 



The Hon, Mr. Davis said his obje6l in bringing for- 

 ward the motion was to find out whether it would work 

 or not, and he would have asked for a report on the 

 result. However, as he saw that the feeling of the mem- 

 bers was against the spending of the money of the 

 Society on the experiment, he would withdraw it with 

 consent of his seconder. 



This having been given the motion was withdrawn. 



