CO885-24 — Page 10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLLC.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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BARBADOS.

Of locally made rum (consumed for the most part by the labouring popula- tion) the consumption from the 1st of August to the 31st of December, 1914, was 8,983 gallons less than that for the same period of 1913.

The deposits in the Barbados Savings Bank on the 31st of July, 1914, amounted to £441,537, and on the 31st of December, 1914, they had fallen to £435,822.

22. The revenue of the Colony received during the five months of the war --August to December inclusive fell short of five-twelths of the estimated revenue for the current financial year by nearly £17,500.

23. The sum total of what may be termed "War-Votes" (exclusive of the gift of £20,000) up to the 31st of December, 1914, amounted to £9,945 198. 8d., but of this sum £1,165 68. 10d. was unspent at the 31st of December. The expen- diture (exclusive as aforesaid) to that date caused by the war, and unforeseen at the time of the framing of the Estimates for the current financial year, is there- fore £2,780 128. 10d.

24. During the five months under review the Government has been compelled to raise by way of loans £31,000. The sums of £9,000 and £2,000 were raised by the issue of debentures under the Reimbursement Act, 1914-18, and the Public Loan Act, 1914-19. The former sum repaid to general revenue the amount paid thereout for the purchase from the War Office of what is known as the Garrison savanna and buildings. The latter sum-£2,000-reimbursed the Water Department for loss on the sale of an investment of £20,000 which had been made during 1898 and 1899 in Colonial Inscribed Stock. These two sums, amounting to £11,000, were raised locally at par on debentures which

pay 4 per cent. interest. The Barbados Savings Bank invested £8,200 in these debentures, and the remainder were bought by private companies or individuals. The gift of £20,000 was borrowed at par and 4 per cent. interest, from the Sugar Industry Agricultural Bank.

25. While the Colony has suffered from the effects of the war by reason of the increase in prices of imported commodities (and especially of foodstuffs), it must be borne in mind that the five-months period under review began just at the termination of the crop season when, with the exception of what had been kept to meet local consumption and the requirements of the intercolonial trade, nearly all the chief exportable products of the island (viz., sugar, syrup, and molasses) had already been sold and exported.

When war was declared there remained in the island only some 4,000 to 4,500 tons of unsold sugar. Practically all the syrup and molasses crop had been sold previously to Canada, Newfoundland, or the United States. These 4,000 to 4,500 bons of sugar were for the most part in the hands of comparatively few merchants or speculators; and these few are the only persons who at the present date-have derived any benefit from the advance in the price of sugar which has been caused by the war. A review of the first half of the year under similar conditions to those existing in the last half of last year would probably present very different.

features.

26. In conclusion, the economic condition of the Barbadian labourer has been unfavourably affected by the increased cost of the necessities of life. His inability (owing to the drought) to plant the accustomed portion of his plot of land (owned or rented) in ground provisions until September, and the poor crop of canes on the remainder of his plot reaped in November and December for caneplants and fodder, have augmented the difficulties which have arisen in consequence of the war. Moreover, the post no longer brings useful remittances from children in Panama. Nevertheless a cheery philosophy prevails which is well illustrated by the fishwives, who, on bad days, laughingly declare, All the flying fish have been grabbed by them German!"

I have, &c.,

*

L. PROBYN,

Governor.

P.S.-It may be as well to add that, in addition to the £20,000 mentioned in paragraphs 8 and 9, the inhabitants of the island have subscribed a sum aggregat- ing £7,000 to various war funds.

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BARBADOS.

Enclosure 3 in No. 5.

(No. 19.)

House of Assembly. RESOLVED that the sum of two hundred pounds be granted from the Public Treasury to supplement the vote on the Estimates for the present year under head 1 (b), item "Miscellaneous at the disposal of the Governor for the service of the Colony," and that the Legislative Council be invited to concur herein, and if concurred in :-

Resolved that His Excellency the Governor be requested to assent to the same and to take the necessary steps to give effect to this resolution.

F. J. CLARKE, 4th August, 1914.

Speaker.

Concurred in by the Legislative Council the 4th day

of August, 1914.

W.

K. CHANDLER,

Í assent.

President.

L. PROBYN,

Governor. 4th August, 1914.

(No. 22.)

Enclosure 10 in No. 5.

House of Assembly.

RESOLVED that the sum of twelve hundred pounds be granted from the Public Treasury to supplement the vote on the Estimates for the present year under head 1 (b), item "Miscellaneous at the disposal of the Governor for the service of the Colony," and that the Legislative Council be invited to concur herein, and if concurred in :—

Resolved that His Excellency the Governor be requested to assent to the same and to take the necessary steps to give effect to this resolution.

T. W. O'NEAL, 11th August, 1914.

Deputy Speaker. Concurred in by the Legislative Council the 11th of August, 1914. W. K. CHANDLER,

I assent,

L. PROBYN,

Governor. 11th August, 1914.

(No. 21.)

Enclosure 11 in No. 5.

President

House of Assembly.

WHEREAS by Section 3 (1) of the Volunteer Act, 1909, it is enacted that the force shall consist of such batteries of artillery, companies of infantry, whether mounted or otherwise, or bicycle detachments, as the Governor may from time to time be authorized to form by resolution of the Legislature:

And whereas the infantry of the force at present consists of three companies

of fifty men each: And whereas it is expedient to increase the number of each company by twenty men: Be it therefore resolved that the Governor is hereby authorized to add twenty men to each of the said companies of infantry: And that the Legislative Council be invited to concur herein, and if concurred in :--

Resolved that His Excellency the Governor be requested to assent to the same and to take the necessary steps to give effect to this resolution.

T. W. O'NEAL, 11th August, 1914.

Deputy Speaker. Concurred in by the Legislative Council the 11th of August, 1914. W. K. CHANDLER,

President.

L. PROBYN,

Governor.

I assent.

11th August, 1914.

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BARBADOS.

Enclosure 12 in No. 5.