32 -:

 The situation is being very carefully watched, and I hope we will achieve
 better results on a further visit which will be made by-the Labour Commissioner
 and on better terms which have been agreed on by Mt. Bentinck Estate. As
 Honourable Members will realise this situation might have danger in it, and we, as
 responsible members of Government, must.. be very careful how the matter is
 handled and see that the best is done forobth sides.
 As regards the items on the Agenda, I want to mention the Loan Bill which
 appears for first reading today. I shall explain to Honourable Members that this
 has arisen out of certain discussions the Governor, Sir Robert Arundell, has had in
 London. During- these discussions the Colonial Office "provisionally agreed that
 we should go ahead with the- various projects listed for Loan funds in the past. I
 -refer specifically to the Kingstown Market, Fair Hall Homes, and Central
 Arrowroot Factories. Therefore, the Schedule which appears in this Loan
 Ordinance although it covers these three particular matters is only-a provisional
 one, as suggested by the Governor, to which other items may 'be added. One
 important point of this new Ordinance is that it gives us power to raise money in
lthe London Market. You will remember that the previous Ordinance only gave
us power to raise money in St. Vincent.
 I had intended to ask you to take the Bill through all stages at this meeting,
 but in view of the fact that it has had to be changed -t the last moment, I now
 consider that it would be better if Members could be given the opportunity to
 absorb the Bill and pass it at a subsequent meeting of/Coufhcil.
 The nbxt point to which I want to refer is in -connection with the two
 Agricultural Bills on the Agenda for second reading. I have received a letter from
 the Planters' As.ociation asking that, in view of the fact that both of these Bills
 affect thmrn considerably, they would like to have an opportunity to comment on
 them by a memorandum before the second reading is taken. I suggested that you
 would probably agree to postpone them to 5th April, which is the next meeting of
 Council-,but no longer, and I trust Honourable 'Members will agree to that
 procedure.

 4. NOTICES OF MQTIONS.
 There were no notices of Motions.

 5. PETITIONS.
 There were no Petitions.

 6. PAPERS LAID.
 Honourable Crown Attorney : Your Honour, Honourable Members, I have the.
 honour to lay the following papers on the Council Table :-
 SCouncil Paper No. 6 of 1951-Minutes of Meeting of Finance Committee, 19th
 September, 1950.
 .Council-Paper No. 7 of 1951-Minutes of Meeting of Finance Committee, 3rd
 October, 1950.
 Council Paper No. 8 of 1951-Report of the Principal Auditor, Windward
 Islands for the year 1949
 Council Paper No. 9 of 1951-Importation of Animals (Diseases Prevention)
 (Amendment) Regulations 1951.
 Council Paper No. 10 of 1951-Importation of Animals (Diseases Prevention)\
 (Venezuela) Order, 1951