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 I have been looking forward for a long time to West Indians filling the
 highest offices in the Government Services, and I have been hoping for some time
 that some opportunity would be afforded us; and now that this-opportunity
 presents itself for us to have the' most able men from the -West Indies to fill such.
 posts, I find that there are two'people here trying to oppose it. I cannot blow hot
 and cold as regards-Federation. If we are to support Federation we are to support
 every means to make it a succcess. In my view one of the greatest obstacles to the
 future success of Federation will be the paucity and lack of personnel in many of
 : these West Indian Colonies. I' feel that for a long time the Civil Service in the
 West Indies has been unable to offer.opportunities for the most brilliant sons of
 our soil to join in that Service. 'For a long time those sons could not be expected
 to join up in the ordinary junior posts of the Civil Service. They are brilliant and
 want expression of their :,rili i,, -c-. I hold the view. expressed by the Commission,
 and I feel that it was-wrung out of the unwilling hands of the Colonial Office at
 the time when the West Indies needed it most. It has come now and needs men
 of foresight and vision t6 accept it and give our people the opportunity which they
 have been looking forward to for a great number of years.
 It may be that very often you find that matters of such an-intricate nature as
 Reports of this-kind,. heavy'and intricate, -are often twisted to make a trap for
 fools. Nevertheless- we know what truth is,. and we feel that this is one of the
 blessings- afforded to.the West Indies,'and even with my latest breath I am going
 to support this Report feeling that I will be-doing my duty not only to the people
 of this Island, but to the future inhabitants of the entire West Indies.,
 Honourable 0, D. Brisbane: YouirHonour, Honourable Members of Council,
 SI must admit that I did not give.the Report on'the Unification of the Public
 Services as much study as I should have given it due to the fact that I have been
 out of the Colony within recent months. I did have the Report with me though,
 also the Report of the S.C.A.C., which latter Report I gave more study than 'the
 former. Therefore, when I looked on the Agenda and saw that this matter was to
 come up I was somewhat at a disadvantage togdecide what I should do. I have,
 however, listened carefully to the arguments put 'forward by both sides for the
 motion and the counter-motion, and I can say that I am- convinced that the
 counter-motion is right and therefore throw my weight in with it.
 I agree that this Report should come into being and should not be thrown out.
 In doing so I must refer to one of/the chief arguments on the negative side, that
 it is no use bringing in Unification now before Federation. I feel that when
 .Federation comes- (I hope it is not far distant) there.will be.further unification
 of matters other than Public Services, so that if this Unification is introduced now
 S I don't see that it makes any difference.: ..
 I ani sorry I cannot put up any more arguments on the subject,but quite-.a lot
 >" has been' said by the gentlemen who -have moved and seconded the counter- .
 motion, and I am conscientiouslysupporting them.
 "Honourable Member for Kingstown : At the time when I seconded the
 motion by the Honourable Member for North Windward, I.was not aware of the
 counter-motion. I still feel, however, that I have no hard feelings either way; but
 Should like to draw attention to Chapter IV, Paragraph 121 of the S.C.A.C. Report
 S which says :
 "We conclude this Chapter, and our Report, with some observations on,
- the general question of "-pre-federal structures ". There are those who hold
 that the time for federation is not yet; and that the wisest course would be to.-
 -proceed with joint action in" various directions, such as Customs:-Union, the