McCarthy — trinidad as a commercial centre. 249 
trade, bad not so much to do with it as the restrictions and diffi- 
culties imposed on transit trade. Mr. McCarthy had told them 
that that trade was floating wealth which was very easily driven 
away, and he quite agreed with him. The imposition of taxes 
however small was vexations, and the trade would eventually find 
its way to other ports where it was not hampered and restricted by 
any petty taxation or restrictions. With regard to their Harboui 
improvements, he thought it would be a great thing if they had 
a deep-water quay at which vessels could be discharged, more 
especially for facilitating through trade to Venezuela. 5/ a ton 
which it now cost to land goods was a very great item when 
they considered that 15/ was the average freight paid on rough 
goods coming out here. 33 per cent, on goods transhipped was 
far too much, and if continued they would lose their transit 
trade. It had been said that the colony received no benefit trom 
the transit trade, but Mr. McCarthy’s figures showed how wrong 
that impression was. The money paid for lighterage remained in 
the Colony. It gave working employment and gave a profit to 
owners of lighters. Warehousing also gave employment to a 
large number of men. Every penny spent on transit goods in 
this colony was of direct benefit, and the more money pu in 
circulation must necessarily benefit not only individuals ut le 
community at large. Their thanks were due to Mr. ALcOart y 
for having aroused public interest in one of the most important 
elements in Trinidad’s future development. 
The Very Rev. Father Hickey rose and said he would not 
presume to take part in the discussion but for mie re mark that 
fell from the distinguished lecturer, who said tha 
stranger." Well, he (Father Hickey) might claim that q y 
'nth even more right. Moreover the question _ J 
by the lecture^ belonged to the domain of smence-that ot 
Political economy-now in science, all are citizens, so that^ he 
(the speaker) was as much a Trinidadian m a 1 i ecturer 
eke. He ventured to dissent from the views of Reject urer 
two points. The success of a port anc 1 derations 
transit trade or course depended on geograp nca , ' l k ^e 
on something else, and if the lecturer went further toe the 
w °uld find that in every instance the begmn o ^ v)lat waH 
* as due to the fact that in those parts P e °P j ou „v,t things 
^uted and went to them for it, and naturally b.ou^ ^ ^ 
^exchange. The fact was that corruueici ^* ncr to offer as 
wter on a larger scale. You must. ia'e something and 
’oil as something to receive. You m s ‘ therefore he ^aid 
wust he prepared to give something fm i , , t j n t he 
fiat at the foundation of the prosperity ot c > [ ^ 
