PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
6
C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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years have been obliged perforce to reduce their expenditure on management, which formerly was admittedly extravagant and unnecessary, nevertheless, circumstances in this island, apart from cheap labour, are not in favour of economical culture of sugar cane, or indeed of any crop. The soil, though suitable to the growth of the cane, is in most cases shallow, and can obviously only be rendered fit for agricultural purposes by heavy fertilization; the cost of this for a sugar plantation is estimated at £8 0s. 3d. an acre, divided as follows: farming manure, £3 12s. 7d.; artificial fertilizer,, £3 7s. 8d., though the former is acquired from the stock which every estate keeps for transport, and other purposes. Under favourable conditions certain estates in this island have produced over three tons of sugar to the acre, but the average is probably about one ton and a half to the acre.
17. Another drawback is, that estates in Barbados are divided up into com- paratively small areas, each with it own mill and boiling house. The largest estate in the island is "Carringtons," with 956 acres, one other is over 800 acres, three are over 700 acres, four over 600 acres, seven over 500 acres, and the rest are under 500 acres the average works out at about 220 acres. Sir Frederick Hodgson estimated the number of estates to be 449, but I understand there are now under 400, many of them having been cut up into small portions and sold to peasant proprietors, and in some instances estates have been amalgamated.
18. In regard to the question of central factories, no doubt theoretically more economical working could be secured by their establishment, but in practice they do not always appear to be a success. In Trinidad Mr. Lamont has been obliged to shut down, although in his case all the conditions were favourable to success.
There are, moreover, great difficulties in the way of setting them up here, as all the existing mills and other plant would become valueless, and the mortgagees, who unhappily are an important body in Barbados, would naturally oppose any project which tended to abolish a large part of their security. The planters themselves have no money to combine and start a co-operative factory, and any outside speculator would be a bold man who would advance a large sum of money on the problematic chance of getting a good return out of sugar manufacture in the West Indies.
19. The best that can be said in regard to the industry in Barbados is that it holds on, thanks to the operations of the Plantations in Aid Acts, and no doubt it will continue to hold on under the Agricultural Bank Act. I cannot learn, however, that any estates have done more than pay their interest on the mortgages, some have gone under, and it is doubtful whether there are half a dozen estates in Barbados worked except with borrowed capital. I do not, of course, include those owned by absentee proprietors.
20. If I were asked to say whether the sugar industry had improved in this island since the coming into force of the Brussels Convention, I should be con- strained to reply that there has been some mitigation of the conditions existing prior to 1903, but that nothing had occurred to encourage the hope that cane sugar in the British West Indian islands would ever be able successfully to compete with beet sugar in the markets of Europe and America. Mr. Martineau estimates the cost of manufacturing one hundredweight of sugar in Europe to be 9s., or £9 Os. Od. per ton, and it is hardly likely that the cost can be brought below this figure in Barbados, while the beet processes might, and probably will, be still further cheapened in Europe and America.
21. According to the statistics given in a report on the progress of the beet sugar industry, published by the United States Department of Agriculture for 1905, the output of beet sugar had increased from 163,126 tons in 1901-2 to 283,171 tons in 1905-6, while cane sugar also showed an increase for the same period from 327,676 to 342,000 tons. Canada is also extending her beet culture; commencing in 1902 with 6,696 tons, this industry had extended to 11,419 tons in 1905-6. In 1906 there were building in the United States 12 new factories, with a capacity of 9,150 tons, and in order to encourage the industry, bounties are given. in some of the States.
22. Perhaps I cannot give a more illuminating description of the condition of the sugar industry in this island than by relating a conversation I had recently with a gentleman who lives in Barbados, and who has long been associated with the West Indies. He told me that 15 years ago he bought what was considered to be one of the best sugar estates in Barbados, with an area of nearly 300 acres, for which he paid £15,000, or at the rate of £50 an acre. Three years ago he bought another estate of 163 acres at a cost of £20 an acre, and he assured me that he had not averaged more than 2 per cent. on the first estate, and had barely cleared
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expenses on the other, notwithstanding that he had acquired it at an almost derelict rate. The gentleman in question is a capitalist and well qualified to look after his own interests; moreover, his attorney has the reputation of being the most capable planter in the island.
23. I have ascertained that the number of estates that have borrowed money, and are now borrowing under the Plantations in Aid Acts and the Agricultural Aids Act, is as follows:-
Against 1903 crop
1901
>
11
1905 1906
"
"
21
200
208
209
189
In addition to these I am advised that the number of estates in Chancery which borrowed money under the Agricultural Aids Act during the same period are as follows:-
Against 1903 crop
"}
1904
13
"
1905 1906
"
"
18 20
15
15
The Master in Chancery informs me that Chancery Suits relating to 24 sugar plantations are now in process, and four relating to properties other than sugar plantations. He has also sold 64 plantations from 1903 to date, and eight properties
other than these.
24. I might add that the table of borrowers given does not exhaust the list. Some of the prominent merchants have resumed their advances, and as I have before mentioned, there is only a very small minority of sugar planters who work their estates on their own capital.
25.
There is no doubt that the redeeming feature in the agricultural situation in Barbados is the continued extension of the growth of cotton, and the profit on this culture has helped in a great measure to tide over the disappointing results of sugar production.
The undermentioned' table gives details in regard to cotton from 1902-3 to 1906-7 :-
1902-3
Year.
Area Planted.
Lint,
Seed,
Value of Lint.
Value of Seed at £5 per ton.
Total Valuc,
acres
Th.
Ib.
£
£
£
16
5,550
13,450
318
1903-4
**
800
192,061
472,510
12,388
1,055
13,443
1904-5
1,647
344,232
846,882
20,869
1,890
22,759
1905-6
2,000
479,418
1,179,468
30,363
2,633
32,996
1906-7
5,000
366,241*
901,029
33,572
2,011
35,583
* To 31st March, 1907, probably about two-thirds of the crop.
26. Much has been done for agriculture both in Barbados and in the West Indies generally since the Imperial Department of Agriculture commenced its valuable work in these islands, and no man could have worked harder than its indefatigable head, Sir Daniel Morris, to serve the interests of the planters, and to direct effort into the right channels. If I were inclined to be hypercritical, I should that experiments with seedling canes are so much wasted energy, though
say I can understand the feeling which prompts the experiments. The sugar factories in Barbados die hard, and the cry on every side is that they must be fed at all costs. The business of the island is based on sugar production, and it is argued that it is the only industry that will employ, and support, the large negro popula- tion; this difficulty, however, has been overcome for the present by the demand for labour in Panama, where from ten to twelve thousand Barbadians are now working, and there are complaints of shortage of labour here.
27. Personally I do not believe that sugar cane in Barbados can ever compete on equal terms with beet in Europe and America, and under such circumstances I think it is a mistaken kindness to encourage the hope that any cane giving a larger
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