PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- | COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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(No. 90.)
MY LORD,
18
No. 22.
JAMAICA.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received March 13, 1907.)
[Acknowledged April 5, 1907. No. 118.]
King's House, Jamaica, February 23, 1907. WITH reference to your despatch, No. 329, of the 8th November last,* explain- ing that you were unable at present to make any announcement with regard to the continuance of the Brussels Sugar Convention, I have the honour to transmit a copy of a Circular letter putting several questions on the subject, which I caused to be addressed to the Custodes of Parishes containing sugar estates and also to the Resident Magistrate for St. James, which parish contains such estates, and has not at present a Custos. I annex copies of the replies received, as well as of a communication on the subject from the Northside Sugar Planters' Association, and resolutions passed by the Westmoreland Sugar Planters' Association, which that body have asked may be communicated to Your Lordship.
The Resident Magistrate for St. James has been asked to send in his reply at his early convenience.
SIR,
I have, &c.,
J. A. SWETTENHAM,
Governor.
Enclosure 1 in No. 22.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Jamaica, December 4, 1906.
I AM directed by the Governor to request you to be so kind as to furnish me with the most accurate information which you can obtain, so far as concerns your own parish, on the effect of the Brussels Convention on the sugar industry, and on the effect of the uncertainty which has recently been felt as to whether the Convention will be renewed on the expiration of its present term.
2. This information can perhaps be most usefully supplied in the form of answers to the following questions, but His Excellency will of course be very glad to receive any additional observations which you may be able to offer :-
(1) What has been the effect of the Convention on prices?
(2) On the extent of acreage under cane?
(3) On the development of local confidence and energy?
(4) To what extent has it led to the introduction of fresh capital from
outside?
(5) What is the amount of such fresh capital?
(6) What value of new machinery has consequently been imported from Great Britain, Canada, and the United States of America, respectively?
(7) To what extent have any of such effects been checked by the recent
uncertainty of the continuance of the Convention?
(8) What acreage of canes has consequently been abandoned?
You need not be reminded of the importance of this question to the Colony, and the necessity of providing the Imperial Government with the fullest trustworthy
• No. 11.
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information on the subject at the present juncture; and the Governor feels, there- fore, that he may confidently appeal to you to assist him to the full extent of your ability.
The Custodes,
St. Catherine,
Clarendon,
Trelawny, Westmoreland,
St. Thomas.
The Resident Magistrate,
SIR,
St. James.
I have, &c.,
H. CLARENCE BOURNE,
Colonial Secretary.
Enclosure 2 in No. 22.
The CUSTOS OF ST. CATHERINE to COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Charlemont, Ewarton, December 20, 1906.
I BEG to acknowledge receipt of your letter, No. 10454/12827, of the 4th instant, requesting me by the Governor's instruction to furnish you with the most accurate information which can be obtained so far as concerns my own parish on the effect of the Brussels Convention on the sugar industry and on the effect of the uncertainty which has been recently felt as to whether the Convention will be renewed on the expiration of its present term.
In reply, I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency— (1) I do not think that the Brussels Convention has had any direct appreciable effect on the price of sugar. Prices certainly went up after the first year of the Convention, and many persons ascribed it to the effect of the Convention, but it was, I am of opinion, owing to the failure of the beet crops, for the following year, with average beet crops, prices were brought back to their normal condition."
(2) With the exception of the abandonment of Caymanas Estate cane cultiva- tion has been extended on the three other estates in the parish, and I think consider- ably so in the island generally.
(3) I believe that the Convention has achieved its greatest success in the develop- ment of local confidence and energy, for in many cases capitalists are now willing Hitherto to make advances on sugar cultivation, and consider it a safe investment. that confidence had been shaken, but I think it is now restored in a great measure.
(4) It has led to the introduction of fresh capital to the extent of about £4,000 in St. Catherine, and I should say, approximately, £100,000 over the island, three- fourths of which is from outside.
(5) A large quantity of machinery has in consequence been imported into the island, which is almost entirely from Great Britain. I personally imported £7,000 worth for Lord Penrhyn's estate, Denbigh, in 1904, and the Honourable J. V. Calder £2,000 worth for Worthy Park. The Lodge, the property of Colonel Kitchener, now leased to Mr. Melhado, also imported some new machinery.
(6) I am disposed to say that there has been no check to improvements in connection with the uncertainty of the continuance of the Convention, as most planters believe that the British Government will not withdraw from the Convention. (7) There has been no decrease in cane cultivation in this parish, with the exception of Caymanas above referred to.
With respect to the general effect of the Brussels Convention on the sugar industry of the Colony, I would venture to say it has prevented a further reduction in the value of the sugar which would certainly have been the case with the large supply in the markets of the world if the bounties had continued. In my opinion it goes without saying that if an expression of opinion were to be given by the sugar planters of Jamaica it would be unanimously in favour of the maintenance of the Convention,
I have, &c.,
GEO. MCGRATH.
The Honourable
H. Clarence Bourne, C.M.G.,
Colonial Secretary,
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