(a) Decreasing the cost of normal foodstuffs to- the community by
 Subsidization.
 (b) The creation of employment.
 Government in reviewing (a) considered that for one year sum of not less than
 $100,000 would be required, and at the-end of that time there would be nothing to
 show for.the expenditure, and in any case a policy of subsidies was not a good one..
 During-the next two or three months, therefore, the Government hopes,..in order
 -to relieve the: situation, to create some employment by recommending work on the
 reconstruction of the Vigie Highway and also certain suburban roads. It should
 be fully understood that these works are merely in the nature of relief to
 unemployed people at the present time, and should not be taken as a change in
 Government's policy regarding finance. It will involve the expenditure, of
 -.Government funds but it is felt that such an' expenditure, notwithstanding the
 difficult -financial situation, of the Colony, will assist in restoring confidence
 amongst the citizens of St.'Vincent.
 It is accepted by Government that, in view of the claims that have been -
 Sput .forward by the Civil Service for over a year, it would be unjust to spend the
 -money which it will be necessary to spend for these relief works without giving
 consideration to the Civil Service.- The results of the MacLeod-Smith Commission
 on the Cost'of Living position have not yet been received, but.it is understood that
 a certain increase in cost of living is necessary in view of the most recent "rise in
. prices. The Government does not at this stage commit itself to any particular
 figure, but intends to make. a gesture in giving the Civil Servants a certain
 measure of relief. It should be clearly- understoo bly all, however, that the
 employment of labour and the payment'of extra aid to the Civil Service are in
 fact no more than gestures of good faith as the financial situation of the Colony
 would-preclude -the Government from creating wholesale and widespread
 employment. Government has clso noticed with dismay .a certain, tendency on
 the part of the worker in the West Indian Colonies al the present time to strike,
 without proper negotiation, and calls upon all workers to understand that such
 mtinell:ij : are unconstitutional and that negotiations should always precede- any
 notification of a. strike.,
 ,The second matter I want to touch on is the Elections Bill which is to enable
 us to proceed with preparation for the next general elections. Until theBill is
 passed, we cannot proceed-with enumeration, which we had hoped to commence
 on the 16th April. The. necessary instruments have not arrived, but I received
 information from the Governor directing me not to proceed with the bill until I
 heard from him. --It will not be possible to proceed with.the-bill t today's meeting.
 S The Director of Colonial Surveys has notified Government that he will lend us
 a team of surveyors to carry out our programme. I think this Is a very welcome
 piece of news and it will enable us to make a proper survey of the Colony.
 S [At this point the Honourable Member for Kingstown arrived, and tendered
 an excuse for being late.]

 4. NOTICES OF MOTIONS.
 Honourable 'Member .for Kingstown : Your Honotr, Honourable Members, I
 give notice that I shall move the following Motion at the next meeting of Council :
 lit view'of the fact that the majority of people in the Windward Islands are
 miserably poor; and also
 In view of the fact that retrenchment is necessary in government; and also