Read 5th May, 1898. 
THE RESOURCES OF TRINIDAD. 
By L. Bert de Lamarre. 
I N attempting to address you on such an important subject as 
the Resources of Trinidad, I must ask your kind indulgence, 
to the many defects that will no doubt be apparent to those 
whose knowledge of the subject is far more extended and varied, 
than I can possibly lay claim to. My residence here has not beeii 
of sufficient duration to enable me to study out in an entire prac- 
tical way the complete resources of this magnificent Island. 
However, in deference to the wish of your indefatigable Presi- 
dent (Sir John Gold ney) I shall endeavour to the best of my 
ability to give a short sketch of what those resources are. 
Trinidad is essentially an agricultural country and its main 
industry continues to be the cultivation of the Sugar Cane. 
This industry has given employment, to many in the past, and 
still does so, but unfortunately competition of Beet Sugai, 
largely supported by artificial means, is causing a rapid decrease 
of the area under cultivation. Many of us can remember the 
palmy days of the West Indies when “ Sugar was King” and a 
of us know only too well the serious depression under which an 
industry of such vital importance to the .well being of t us 
colony now’ struggles for existence. 
So far we look in vain to the Mother Country for that help 
which is required to counteract this outside competition, u 
there are not wanting indications that the European bountie^ 
will eventually be abolished, and we may yet see a return 
that prosperity which once prevailed. 
There is considerable difficulty in the way of getting * 
proper system of tenant farming established, mainly on 
count of the facilities enjoyed by the labouring classes 111 
Island of existing from day to day without the trouble o 
ing themselves to work, and when obliged to do so they un ^ 
cocoa and rice cultivation are preferable in a great me ' lsm h eS 
that of the sugar cane. I can understand that amongst the 
here a preference should be shown for cocoa cultivation as ^ 
have from an early time been accustomed to it, and t my 
