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favourably with the world's price; and it was also asserted that it would be unfair to impose any liability on manufacturers of grey crystals to retain any part of their production, as such sugar was not usually sold locally.

4. To deal first with the question of permits, the Food Committee pointed out that unrestricted exportation might easily lead to a sugar famine, and that, but for exportation being put under restriction in September of last year, every pound of sugar would have left the Colony. As regards the proposal to raise prices in sympathy with any upward movement in the world's market, the Committee main- tained that the Government would be failing in its duty if it allowed the interests of the local consumer to be at the mercy of speculators in sugar in London and New York.

5. A suggestion was then made by Mr. G. F. Huggins that the need to restrict exportation and to require manufacturers of grey crystals to retain any portion of their output would be obviated if the price of yellow crystals were fixed at 6 cents per lb. and molasses sugar at 5 cents per lb., instead of 5 cents and 4 cents respectively, which are the present fixed retail prices, because he was of opinion that event that the manufacturers of yellow crystals and molasses sugar would be only too glad to agree to shoulder the liability to retain proportionately among The Food themselves the whole of the 8,000 tons required for local consumption. Committee, while expressly declaring that, even if manufacturers of yellow crystals and molasses sugar agreed to the suggestion above indicated, the Committee must not be taken to agree to allow of unrestricted exportation or to an increase in prices to 6 cents and 5 cents, undertook to issue a circular letter to the various factories asking their views on Mr. Huggins's suggestion.

6. This letter was duly issued, but the managers of Orange Grove, Tennants Estates, and Trinidad Estates Company have refused to consent to retain more than their proportion of the total output of sugar; and, as the imposition of a larger liability could only be fairly made with the consent of all affected, it is clear that no action can be taken in Mr. Huggins's proposal, and that the local supply of sugar must be maintained on the lines originally proposed by the Food Committee.

7. So far as the use locally of grey crystals is concerned, it is quite true that. under normal conditions, yellow crystals and molasses sugar are preferred: but the Committee feel strongly that conditions are abnormal, that sacrifices of preference are required from all, and that the duty of the Committee should be confined to the maintenance of a supply of sugar in the Colony; and that the mere fact that grey crystals are not used locally when the other grades are obtainable is no reason why an undue liability to contribute to the local stock should, against their will, be imposed on manufacturers of the latter. After all, grey crystals are good and wholesome sugar, and are only less in demand because their appearance is more homely. This decision does not prevent a manufacturer of grey crystals arranging with a manufacturer of yellow crystals or molasses sugar that the latter shall undertake to contribute to the local stock of sugar the amount that would otherwise have had to be furnished by the former.

8. The Food Committee have also considered the question of the retail price of sugar, and have come to the conclusion that, having regard to all the circum- stances of the case, a fair maximum retail price would be 5 cents per lb. for all grades except white crystals, the maximum price of which should be fixed at 6 cents. per lb.

The Secretary,

Chamber of Commerce, Board of Agriculture, Agricultural Society.

I am, &c.,

H. C. GOLLAN, Chairman of Food Committee.

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Enclosure 2 in No. 99.

REPORT OF CHAIRMAN. Liquidating COMMITTEE.

Receiver-General's Office, Port of Spain, 8th May, 1915.

THE HONOUrable the COLONIAL SECRETARY,

IN conformity with the instructions contained in your letter of the 1st March, 1915, I have the honour to report on the operations of the Liquidating Committee since its appointment on the 31st March.

2. The personnel of the Liquidating Committee appointed, in pursuance of His Excellency's Proclamation No. 62 of 1914, to carry out the provisions of this Proclamation and those of Ordinance No. 87, 1914 (amended by No. 6, 1915), is made up as follows :—

The Receiver-General, Chairman.

The Official Receiver.

Honourable Sir G. Townsend Fenwick, K.C.M.G., late M.L.C.

Honourable Alexander Fraser, Manager of the Trinidad Shipping and

Trading Company, M.L.C.

Mr. J. H. Smith, of Messrs. Smith Brothers & Company.

Mr. W. G. Purdie, Superintendent of the Colonial Bank.

Mr. William Robertson, of Messrs. Smith, Robertson & Company.

Mr. A. H. Cipriani, formerly Manager of Messrs. Lascelles de Mercado.

3. The first meeting of the Committee was held at the Treasury on Saturday, 31st October, 1914, the date the Proclamation was issued.

All the members then appointed and, by special request, the Attorney-General and the Inspector-General of Constabulary were present.

4. At the meeting it was decided to close down the following enemy businesses, and they were accordingly closed on Monday, 2nd November :---

(1) Mr. Max Reimer.

(2) Messrs. Wessels Brothers and von Gontard (Port of Spain).

(3) Messrs. Wessels Brothers and von Gontard (San Fernando).

(4) Messrs. Schjolseth and Holler.

(5) Messrs. P. H. Scheerer & Company.

(6) Messrs. A. S. Laing & Company (successors).

The German Kali Works.

Mr. Hugo Hoffman.

Subsequently the Committee received instructions to deal with other concerns,

and proceeded to liquidate or administer the following :-

(9) Mr. S. E. Jacobson (closed down 11th November, 1914). (10) Mr. C. A. Belling (closed down 17th November, 1914).

(11) The house properties of Mrs. J. A. A. Scheerer.

(12) The cocoa estates of Mr. Max Reimer at Caura and Mr. P. F. Collignon

at Erin (taken over 12th December, 1914); and

(13) The estate of Joseph Spaett (taken over on 13th February, 1915).

5. The Committee, on the date on which the businesses were closed down, and,

in the case of the house properties and other estates, on the dates they were taken over, appointed the following managers to realize assets or, according to circum- stances, administer the estates :----

(1) Mr. John R. Wilson, Manager of Mr. Max Reimer.

Mr. Thomas Boyd, Manager of Messrs. Wessels Brothers and von

Gontard (Port of Spain).

(3) Mr. A. R. Sammy, Manager of Messrs. Wessels Brothers and von

Gontard (San Fernando).

(4) Mr. William Scott, Manager of Messrs. Schjolaeth and Holler.

(5) Mr. James Wilson (Tertius), Manager of Messrs. Paul H. Scheerer &

Company.

(6) Mr. Arthur Greig, Manager of Mr. Hugo Hoffman.

(7) Mr. John R. Wilson, Manager of Mr. S. E. Jacobson.

(8) Mr. John R. Wilson, Manager of C. A. Belling.

(9) Mr. John R. Wilson, Manager of the house properties of Mrs. J. A. A.

Scheerer.