26
2. Acreage under canes has been increased about 15 per cent.
3. Local confidence and energy have been increased with the hope that the Convention will be continued, and that the same favourable conditions will continue to prevail.
4. Fresh capital from outside has been invested in purchasing a sugar estate for the purpose of making a central factory (Serge Island and Garbrand Hall), and I myself have, since the Convention, put up improved machinery at Albion.
"The estimated amount of foreign capital, so far about £40,000, part already spent and being spent.
5.
6. Machinery from Great Britain for the Parish, to my knowledge about £2,500 up to now.
7. The uncertainty of the Convention not being continued will have the effect that no future improvements will be considered.
8. None; but if it should not be continued, it will check further extension in planting.
Honourable G. G. Taylor,
Custos of St. Thomas.
Yours, &c.,
J. GRINAN.
THE LIST OF QUESTIONS SENT MR. GRINAN FOR REPLY.
1. What has been the effect of the Convention on prices?
On the extent of acreage under cane?
2.
3.
On the development of local confidence and energy?
4.
abroad?
To what extent has it led to the introduction of fresh capital from
5. What is the amount of fresh capital?
6.
What value of new machinery has consequently been imported from Great Britain, Canada, and the United States respectively?
7. To what extent have any of such efforts been checked by the recent uncertainty of the continuance of the Convention?
SIR,
8. What acreage of canes has consequently been abandoned?
Enclosure 8 in No. 22.
Northside Sugar Planters' Association, Little River, February 4, 1907. Ar the Annual General Meeting of above Association, held on 2nd instant, I was directed to send you the enclosed original reply by the Vice-President, Mr. George Taylor, to the questions asked by His Excellency the Governor relative to the Sugar Convention, and to state that the Association accepted that reply as embodying their views on the subject. It is understood that some members have already given their replies direct.
27
(1) What has been the effect of the Convention on prices?-Up to the present little or none, but I am of opinion if it is made certain that the Convention will be renewed, the price of sugar will be steadied, and yet not materially increased, thus leaving little room for complaint on the part of the consumer, and much room for satisfaction on the part of the grower and (or) manufacturer.
(2) On the extent of the acreage under cultivation of cane?-This is hardly answerable by any one individual, and I should think can be well arrived at from the Government.
(3) On the development of local confidence and energy?-This is again hardly an individual question, but my opinion is that the effect is marked, and expression of such given in the recent improvements made in sundry sugar works throughout the Island.
(4) To what extent has it led to the introduction of fresh capital from outside? -Considerably.
(5) What is the amount of such fresh capital?-Impossible for any individual to say, but necessarily very considerable, as in some cases complete and expensive new plants have been erected.
(6) What value of new machinery has consequently been imported from Great Britain. Canada, and the United States respectively? Unanswerable.
(7) To what extent has any of such effects been checked by the recent uncertainty as to the continuance of the Convention?--I do not think this question is a fair one, as it may be that orders for machinery will be deferred until some definite settlement of the question is made known, and such cannot be counted as a check; and, again, any one having begun must of necessity complete his improve- ment even if such is to lead on, not to fortune, but to ruin, and such cannot be taken as to mean no check.
What acreage of canes has consequently (if at all) been abandoned?—I have no idea if any, and what extent.
It seems hardly possible to think that the British Government after doing so much to help the West Indian sugar growers will allow them to fall to the ground. It is evident that the weakest must go to the wall; and under the unfair competi- tion of bounty-fed sugar, the West Indies are decidedly the weakest, and must go down. With all that is being said about fruit now, can any one not see that it cannot be ever taken as a staple industry; it may be a profitable one for a time, but if put against fruit supplied under a bounty, the fall will be sudden and complete.
Joseph Shore, Esq.,
Hon. Secretary,
Northside Planters' Association.
Enclosure 9 in No. 22.
Yours, &c.,
GEO. TAYLOR.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
The Honourable Colonial Secretary,
Kingston.
DEAR SIR,
I have, &c.,
SIR,
JOSEPH SHORE,
Honorary Secretary.
MR. GEO. TAYLOR to MR. JOSEPH SHORE.
Long Pond, Clark's Town, P.O., January 10, 1907. In reply to your circular of the 8th instant, I beg to submit the following answers to questions given:-
(1) As to the effect of the Brussels Convention on the sugar industry?-- Confidence.
(2) As to the effect of the uncertainty which has recently been felt as to its renewal on the expiration of its present term?-Shaken confidence.
The CUSTOS OF ST. THOMAS to COLONIAL SECRETARY.
Moy Hall, Cedar Valley, P.O., December 24, 1906. WITH reference to your letter, No. 10653/12627, dated the 10th December, 1906, asking me to obtain certain information regarding the effect the Brussels Convention has had on the sugar industry in the Parish of St. Thomas, I am now able to reply to His Excellency's questions as follows:—
1. St. Thomas cannot well be called a sugar Parish in these later days. 2. There is now only one sugar estate "Albion" of any size in the Parish-- Norris and Serge Island can hardly be so termed, making only a few hhds. for the home market.
3. The acreage under canes in the Parish is:-
1899/00
1900/1
1901/2
1902/3
1903/4
1904/5
1905/6
282.54
782 acres. 754
FR
754
17
700
11
800
15
761
"1
555
"
DI
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.