426 TiMEHRI. 



especially noticeable in British Guiana, and must I fear, along with 

 many other shortcomings be charged to the enervating effefts of our 

 climate. All the more credit is therefore due to those gentlemen who 

 prepared papers, attended the meetings, took part in the discussions, 

 and in this way kept alive some interest in a society whose aim and 

 objeft deserves the support of every intelligent member of the com- 

 munity. It is certainly very desirable that members of the Agricultural 

 and Commercial community should meet together for the interchange of 

 ideas and the discussions of important questions affecting their welfare, 

 but unfortunately there is a conservatism amongst them, which is 

 antagonistic to their general welfare, and each individual prefers to 

 work out his own salvation in his own way, if I may so express it. It 

 is quite true the Chamber of Commerce and the Planters' Association 

 each occupy a small corner of the field, but they leave a wide area 

 available for the work and usefulness of this Society. The R. A. and C. 

 Society was founded with the view of promoting in every possible way 

 the Agricultural and Commercial prosperity of the Colony, and it is 

 within my province as President, nay more, it seems to be my duty, to 

 refer to the depressed condition of our chief industry at the present 

 time. You are all doubtless aware that the market value of sugar is 

 now less than the cost of its production, and the sugar industry, on 

 which the well-being and prosperity of this Colony depends, is in a 

 wavering condition. This state of depression has been brought about 

 chiefly by overprodaftion. Witness the enormous output of beet sugar 

 on the continent of Europe, stimulated by export bounties, and safe- 

 guarded as regards home consumption by proteflive duties. It looks as 

 if the sugar industry would give a great objeft lesson regarding the 

 " survival of the fittest," and yet it could not be regarded as the survival 

 of the fittest if the industry succumbs in countries possessing the best 

 natural resources for cheap production, beaten in the unequal fight by 

 countries where sugar can only be produced at a profit if largely pro- 

 tected and state-aided. Take Louisiana for instance, where severe 

 frosts occur, and only during a limited portion of each year can canes 

 be grown. That country is now protected by a duty of 40 per cent, 

 levied on the value of all raw sugars imported into the United 

 States, and yet at present prices, the industry in Louisiana is 

 languishing and unprofitable. But, if a tropical country such as 

 ours, with every natural advantage for the growth of the sugar cane 

 should go down before a country such as Louisiana, it could not 



