365 
248. There are also special circumstances in the case of 
Barbados, which will tend to promote the success of the measures 
which we recommend. The labour supply is more abundant and 
effective than in any of the other EE A and the soil of Barbados 
is especially well suited for growing sugar-canes with exceptionally 
rich juice. These two causes should enable central factories in 
Barbados to turn out sugar at an unusually low cost of production 
T with that which is the average H eins 
249. the evidence given by the planters, figures are brought 
forward “Which, taking into account both the increased quantity 
and quality of the yield from a central factory, show a poe of 
a gain of 40 per cent. over the old muscovado process. And even 
if these figures be eae as too sanguine, it seems to us certain 
that the gain would be very considerable and that it would be 
possible for central takin to be worked at a profit even when 
the price ae Veg was too low to enable the present musco- 
vado works to be remunerative. 
259. It is pd under the circumstances that the capital 
required to set up central factories should be obtained on the 
che eut possible epus and we think the Imperial Wide cocus 
should find the money and lend it to the Colony at the same rate 
of interest at Which it is borrowed. If the Govamment of 
Barbados is required to borrow the money on its own credit, the 
cost will be greater, and the liability of the Imperial Governians 
will not be appreciably reduced ; if general distress arises, whic 
the Colony is unable to relieve, it will be impossible for the Home 
Government to avoid giving assistance. The Colonial Govern- 
ment should, of course, be held ume to the Imperial 
Government for both principal and inte 
254 do not propose to attempt to soille all the details of the 
system under which the central factories — be worked, anc 
will content —* with offering a few De ons. 
255 not appear necessary that t mesma N should 
insist, as a sin qud non, on the estates cape mortgaged for the 
repayment of the loan. To do so would raise D Mao in 
connexion with the existing mortgages, and e centra 
factories prove unsuccessful the —— iudi be ed valueless, 
and the mortgages to Government on them worthless. It would 
be sufficient if the representatives of the seis were to under- 
r of years to send the canes grown by them to 
the central oe They might be paid a low price per ton for 
he canes ae Ese icd idee in such à manner " to barely 
cover the cost of pr roduc ction, or nearly so. The next charge on 
the pales yg aM be the interest a a sinking kad of one per 
per annum. 
divided between the owners of the estates in proportion to the 
i 
of the profits in excess of a certain amount one half should go to 
the owners of the estates and one half be added to the sinking 
fund. When the loan has been repaid with interest the central 
factories should become the property of the owners of ine estates, 
256. The United States market is of especial importance to the 
trade of Barbados. It is from this market that the oer chiefly 
gets its food supply; it is to this market „that practically the 
whole of its sugar is sent. * * * 
