The material and moral progress of Trinidad during last fifty years: a lecture delivered at the opening of the San Fernando Library & Reading Room

The material and moral progress of Trinidad during last fifty years: a lecture delivered atthe opening of the San Fernando Library &Reading RoomAuthor(s): Clark, Henry JamesSource: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection, (1888)Published by: The University of Manchester, The John Rylands University LibraryStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/60232346 .

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MATERIAL AND MORAL,--ffifiGRESS-

2 410 OF

TRINIDAD

P UPyING LAST f

IFTY

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A LECTTJK

DELIVERED AT THE OPENING

BY

HENRY JAMES CLARK, F.S.S.,

Goieiih v if Statist.

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THE " POJtr-OP-SP.ilN GAZETXK" OF I ICE

3^ 1888.

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THE MATERIAL AND MORAL PROGRESS

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TRINIDAD DURING PAST FIFTY YEARS.

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Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,—In laying before you a few facta and figutes illus¬ trative of the material and moral progress of this Colony during the past fifty years, I trust I may be pardoned, if I preface them with the remark, that full and accurate statistics seem only now to be beginning to be appreciated in Trinidad, and that even our present sta¬ tistics are, at best, very incomplete, and in many cases only approximately correct. Un¬ der these circumstances, you will not be sur¬ prised to learn that I have found some difficulty in obtaining reliable information regarding the position of the Colony fifty years ago. What I have failed to obtain from official records, I have endeavoured to gather from such other sources as were within my reach, and, although I am fully aware that facts and figures of this nature are an extremely dry subject on which to address you, I can only trust that your love for, and deep interest in, this — our beautiful island home—may render them, even in my unskilful hands, not altogether uninteresting to you. (Applause.)

Among the various standards adopted by older Countries as tests of their material prosperity and progress, Trade Returns, that is Returns of Imports, Exports and Shipping are now gene¬ rally accepted as at once the simplest and the best. Of course, in such Countries, these Re¬ turns can be supplemented by others of almost equal importance, but of these latter, very few are available in this Colony, and even then, only to a limited extent. The Trade Returns of the Colony are however extant, in a tolerably complete form, from 1824 downwards, and, as any of you who may feel interested in such mat¬ ters can see from certain old documents which I have handed to your Chairman, these Returns were even printed in considerable detail as early as 1828. My remarks to-night, however, being

limited to the past fifty years, I need say no¬ thing of these earlier records except that I think you will find them both interesting aud instruc¬ tive.

Beginning with the Imports of 1838, the total value of which amounted to £405,340 and divi¬ ding the intervening fifty years into five periods of ten years each, 1 find that at the end of the first decade the figures shew but little progress, the total value of the Imports of j.8,47 being only £429.278. This was the first decade after emancipation, and as is well known, was a period of severe agricultural and monetary depression. During the next decade, how¬ ever, (1848 to 1857) our average annual Im¬ ports rose to £550^395, while during the three last decades they may truly be said to have increased by "leaps and bounds," the annual average value for the decade 1858 to 1867 having been £805,457 ; that of the next 1868 to 1877, £1,078,405, and that of the last 1878 to 1887, £1,641,948. It must be borne in mind that these are not the figures of single isolated years, but the annual value, averaged over each period of ten yews, and that they represent only actual trade Imports, Bul¬ lion and Specie being excluded. Perhaps the most remarkable fact in connection with these figures is the increase of over 50 per cent, in the average annual value of our Imports during the decade just closed, (1878 to 1887) as com¬ pared with that of the Imports for the previous ten years (1868 to 1877) ; for it must be re¬ membered that owing to the extraordinary and almost unprecedented fall in the price of almost all commodities during the past ten or twelve years, this increased value represents a further increase of fully 15 to 20 per cent, in quantity ; and as our re-exports have decreased rather than increased during the period in question, it follows that this increase in value and quantity



represents an increased consumption of fully 70 per cent. Of course, there is no doubt that a i considerable part of this consumption is due to increased popuiation ; but when we find such an increase taking place in face of the nnremunera- tive prices ruling for our chief staple, and of the stringent economy which such prices have rendered imperative, the operating causes to ' produce such results must be sought for beyond and apart from any mere increase of population, however considerable such increase may have been. Undoubtedly, the chief factor in the large increase that has taken place in our lm- fport trade, during the past twelve or fifteen Iyears, has been the lapid extension of Cocoa I cultivation in almost every district of the

Colony. Cocoa is fairly remunerative even under the most primitive modes of cultivation and preparation, and highly remunerative when properly cultivated and carefully prepared ; it is grown by a large number of small proprietors; its cultivation requires a comparatively small outlay, and the crop is always saleable for " ready cash." Under such circumstances it is not surprising that Cocoa should have become one of the main supports of our retail trade, and through it, a main factor in raising the average value of our yearly Imports from a little over a million sterling in the preceding decade to a million and a half in the decade just closed. (Applause.)

Before leaving Imports, I might, did time permit, touch upon several matters of interest connected therewith, but I can only note one or two facts which seem deserving of at least a passing notice. In the increase of our Import trade, the Mother Country has not, as might have been expected, been the largest pro¬ portionate gainer, for, while the Imports /from the United Kingdom have only risen 'from £347,514 in 1838 to £748,210 in 1887, 'those from the United States have increased /in the same period, from £9,214 to £360,537, ' and those from other Foreign Countries from £134,214 to £333.919. The Imports from British Colonies have risen from £44,570 in 1838 to £204,063 in 1887. In 1838 with a population of less than 40,000 we imported from British North America goods to the value of £37,796 and now, with a population nearly five times as large, our Imports from that Country only reach £54,532. I am glad however to see that the Canadians are becoming alive to the importance of the West Indian Trade, and that a proposal for a line of Steamers from St. John's to Ber¬ muda, Jamaica and thence to Trinidad and Demerara, has been recently laid before the Canadian Government.

In connection with our present large import trade with the United States, it may surpiise some present to learn, that in 1838, we did not import from that Country, a single pound of flour, beef, pork or lard or a single bag of corn. In fact, the only item of importance in the Ini-

• ports from the United States in 1838, was £7,220 ' for horses and mules. Unfortunately in these earlier Import Returns, no quantities are given, and the price of almost every article has under¬ gone such changes during the past fifty years, that the values given are, at best, but very doubtful guides to even the probable quantity of each article. No comparison as to quantities, that would be at all reliable, can therefore be instituted between the Imports of then and now.

Turning now to Exports, I find that in all the earlier Blue Books the Export Returns are con¬ fined to exports of native produce, Sugar, Cocoa, Coffee, &c, so that any comparison I may make to-night, so far as Exports are concerned, will be confined entirely to our own produce. It may perhaps prove interesting if I briefly com¬ pare the Exports of 1838 with those of 1887. To avoid repetition, and to make the figures more striking, I will simply mention the quantities, naming those for 1838 first— Sugar 13,000 tons 66,875 tons Molasses... 810,698 galls. 2,542,225 galls. Rum 10,992 „ 35,571 „ Cocoa 2,466,000 lbs. 11,927,066 lbs. Cotton 238,793 lbs. none but, in addition to these items of export in 1838, the Colony exported in 1887 the following native products :—

43,098 tons of Asphalt, valued at £51,150, 35,143 galls, of Bitters, valued at £35,143 and

f 7,365,225 Coconuts, valued at £27,102. I need scarcely say, that the values attached to the Exports of 1838 are such as would turn the most sober-minded planter of the present day,

Sugar being valued at £24 5s. per ton, and Mo¬ lasses at 28c. a gallon. Cocoa, however, was only valued at 9c. ; so that in this item of Ex¬ port, there has not only been a large increase in quantity, but a very considerable advance in price.

Following the same system adopted in dealing with the Imports, dividing the period of 50 years into five decades, and taking the annual average export of our two chief staples during each decade, we obtain the following results :—

Sugar Cocoa Tons Bags

1838 to 1847 14,320 18,650 1848 to 1857 20,530 28,740 1858 to 1867 32,645 34,290 1868 to 1877 48,780 48,000 1878 to 1887 55,800 76,500

Again, taking the average Sugar Crop at one ton per acre, and the average Cocoa Crop at 2 bags per acre, we arrive at a cultivated area in these two staples, equal in the five decades to an annual average of :—

V

^

23,645 acres in 34,900 49,790 72,780 94,070

First Decade. Second Third „ Fourth Fifth



3

This is, of course, only a rough estimate of the quantity of land necessary to produce the ave¬ rage quantity of Sugar and Cocoa exported in each decade, without taking account of the land laying fallow, in pasture, or in young cultiva¬ tion not yet bearing, and without making any allowance for Roads, Traces, &c. ; and even then, the figures can only be approximately cor¬ rect. They are however, in the much to be regretted absence of any official record of the cultivated area of the Colony, sufficiently correct and sufficiently striking to show the wonderful advance that has been made in the agricultural development of the Colony, and to prove beyond a doubt, how powerfully Coolie Immi¬ gration, which, as a continuous system, may be said to date from the end of the second decade, and the throwing open of the Crown Lands towards the end of the third decade, have stimulated and aided in that development. The first of these benificent measures will ever be associated with the name of one whose memory will long be held in the highest respect in this U Colony—the late Charles William Warner. Forp the second, the Colony is indebted to the wisdom and foresight of one of its former Governors, Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon. (Applause).

With regard to the Shipping Returns, I think it will be sufficient if I state, that while in 1838, the number of vessels entered and cleared at Ports of the Colony was 929 vessels with a total', tonnage of 95,816 tons—the number so entered | and cleared in 1887 was no less than 4,968 ves¬ sels, with a total tonnage of over a million and ; a quarter tons.

I must really apologize, Mr. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen, for having tried your patience with so long an array of figures, but there really was no other way, so far as the Trade Returns were concerned, of proving my case. I regret that I cannot like that wonderful veteran, Professor Blackie. sing " an auld Scotch sang" by way of interlude, but in this matter, your glee company have come to my aid, and I think I may add that the worst of the figures are now over. (Laughter and applause).

Next to Trade Returns there are perhaps none so valuable, as a test of the mateiial progress and prosperity of a Country, as its Savings Bank Returns. Unfortunately, in this Colony, such Returns have hitherto been " few and far be¬ tween," and in most cases comprised little more than a simple statement of the number of Depositors in that particular year, it not ap¬ parently being even thought necessary to state the total amount in deposit; in fact, until last f year no Savings Bank Return, properly so called, was even published in the Blue Book. The Return published last year is, however so far as it goes, a fairly full and explanatory one.

After considerable searching, I have been able to discover some facts in connection with the establishment and early history of our local

Savings Bank, which I think will prove interest¬ ing, while bearing further testimony to the material progress of the Colony.

By the 25th Section of the 'Order in Council dated 10th March, 1824, and entitled " For im¬ proving the condition of the slaves in Trinidad," provision was made for a great many improve¬ ments, and among others for the establishment and regulation of Savings Banks, and for the payment of 5 per cent, interest on all deposits therein, such interest being made a charge on the general revenues of the Colony. The Order, however, limited the benefits of the Savings Bank to slaves. This order was immediately carried out by the then Governor, Sir Ralph Woodford, and a Savings Bank opened in the Treasury in Port-of.Spain. It does not appear however, that much use was made of it by the class for whose exclusive benefit it was intended, and four years later Sir Ralph Woodford issued a Government Order extending its benefits to all •, the industrious classes of Her Majesty's subjects \ in the Colony, restricting thesum to be deposited by any one person, during the first year of such deposit, to £200, in the second yeai-to£300, and in the whole to £500. The Order further •' provided that such moneys were to be paid into the Colonial Chest and that interest at the rate of 5 per cent, was to be allowed on all deposits. It seems extiaordinary that Sir Ralph Woodford, with his well known ability and foresight, should not have made some provision for the reinvest¬ ment of these moneys so as to provide a means of paying the interest—especially as it appears that at that time, there were other considerable sums of money lying idle in the Treasury. It is true that Sir Ralph had seen the failure of the Bank under its first conditions, and it is equally true that he left the Colony within three months after the publication of the Order extending its provision to all classes, and probably before any considerable amount had been deposited, and he may there¬ fore have considered that it would be time enough to bring in a scheme of reinvestment when the deposits became so considerable as to render such a measure necessary. I can find no record of the amount deposited earlier than 31st December, 1835, (that is seven years after Gover¬ nor Woodford's departure) when the total stood

^ at £9,210. On the 31st December, 1836 (a < 1' year after) this sum had risen to £18,802, the ̂ large increase being due to the fact that many parties availed themselves of the Savings Bank as an undoubtedly safe, and by no means un¬ profitable place in which to deposit the money received in compensation for the emancipation of their slaves. The fact that this large amount was laying idle in the Treasury vault while £1,000 per annum, by way of interest, was being paid to the depositors out of the general revenues rof the Colony, was taken up and severely criti¬ cized by one of the local newspapers, it being stated also, that not more than about a dozen of

i the depositors were artisans or labourers, nine-



tenths of them being members of the higher classes of society, the list including merchants, lawyers, clergymen and three Honourable Mem¬ bers of Council 1 This article led to a good deal of discussion and the matter was a" so taken up in Council, but strange to say, nothing ap¬

pears to have been done till 1839 when, by /Ordinance No. 4 of that year, it was provided / that not more than £30 could be deposited in I one year, and the maximum deposit was fixed

at £200 instead of £500. By Ordinance No. 18 of 1845 the interest was reduced to 4 per cent. The next Ordinance No. 4 of 1882, while removing the restrictions as to the amount of annual deposits, retained the maximum limit of £200, reduced the interest from four to three per cent., and at last provided for the re-investment of the funds in Consols or other first class interest paying securities. A subsequent Ordinance No. 1 of 1883 removed all limitation as to the amount that may be deposited, but provided that no interest should be payable on any amount ex¬ ceeding £200. In regard to the non-investment of the Savings Bank Funds prior to 1882, I may state that at the time of the passing of the Ordi¬ nance of 1839, the Colony was just enterin,g or rather had entered, upon the most severe crisis in its history, and both then, and for many years after, all the money that could be got was wanted within the Colony itself, and he would have been a bold man who would have ventured to suggest the investment of the Sayings Bank Funds outside of the Colony. The wisdom of doing so, even in 1882, may perhaps be ques¬ tioned, in face of the pressing needs of the Colony in such matters as roads, railways, re¬ formatories, &c., and the undoubted security which the general revenue now affords. The real cause of the non-investment of the funds in

I 1839 may, however, have been, that there was I so little to invest, the falling off between 1837

and 1847 having been very great—a clear proof, ' were any such wanted, of the severity of the crisis just referred to, and—if you bear in mind to what class the depositors belonged —a very good indication of "where the shoe pinched."

Taking as before the five decades, the total amount in deposit in the Government Savings Bank at the end of each decade was as follows :

1837 1847 1857 1867 1877 1887

18,802 3,893 8,065

12,977 29,004

110,279 The rise of 50 per cent, in Imports, even plus 20 per cent, for increased quantities, pales into insignificance before the rise in Savings Bank Deposits. It would certainly be very important, and equally interesting, if we could learn whether this increase be due to an increased number of large deposits or whether it really represents an increase in the accumulated savings

of the people, and if so, whether such increase has been equally distributed among all classes, or if not, what particular class or classes have contributed most to this fourfold accu¬ mulation of the past ten years. One fact we do know, namely, that of the £110,279 in

(deposit on 31st December last, £49,254 were

the savings of East Indian Immigrants, but I 'have not been able to find any statement of their deposits in 1877, so as to fix the pro¬ portion of increase due to their deposits.

As showing more clearly the increase during this last decade, I will just state the yearly amounts in deposit, in round thousands—

1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887

34,000 43,000 44,000 41,000 55,000 75,000 88,000 89, COO 99,000

110,000 We have seen how in 1837 the Saving Bank

was actually a drain on the Revenues of the Colony to the extent of £1,000, last year the Savings Banks—for there are now branches in the various Wards—with all their increased business were almost self supporting—the Revenue from invested Funds having been £3,095, and the Expenditure including Salaries of Staff and Interest on Deposits, £3292.

I do not think I need go any further in multiplying proofs of the material advancement of the Colony during the past fifty years. It is true, it may be said, Where is the prosperity, where is the progress when the prices ruling for our chief staple, Sugar, will not pay, or only barely pay, the cost of production Well, unfortunately that fact is only too true, but the causes that have produced that state of things, are to be sought for outside and not inside the Colony. It is neither the fault of the people nor of the Government of the Colony, ;'hat Sugar does not pay. I deeply regret that,

fldyal Briton though I be, 1 cannot say as much fir the Mother Country. England could have Wone and should have done, long ago, what she is now doing in regard to the iniquitous Foreign

f;/vBounties. (Applause). Let us hope however that this cause of complaint, which seems now in a fair way of being settled, may ere long be com¬ pletely removed, and fair prices be again firmly established.

Having said this, however, I must add that the Colony has advanced notwithstanding the Sugar Crisis. Nor is this when properly con¬ sidered at all surprising. In Trinidad, we have had none of that general abandonment of Sugar Estates that has ruined so many of our smaller sister colonies, One or two estates have been

*



abandoned, others have been partially so, and " on all, expenses have been very considerably re¬ duced, but these reductions have not fallen, to any great extent, on the large number of labourers employed. The amount spent for labour, which, if curtailed to any large extent, would at once be seriously felt throughout the colony, has not been so curtailed, although reduced ; and even then the chief reductions have fallen on a comparatively small number of the higher employe's, while the real loss has,—

rat least the largest portion of it,—fallen on \j that much abused class—the absentee pro- Vprietors. Any actual curtailment of the 'spending power of that'portion of our local community connected with Sugar, has been far more than made up by the increased spending power of those connected with other industries—and especially with Cocoa.

In speaking of the material advancement of the Colony, 1 have not though it necessary to refer to the many and great benefits, which the past fifty years have conferred on Trinidad in common with other civilized Countries, such as vastly improved external and internal means of

/communication, by Steamers, Railways, Tram- / ways, Telegraphs, Telephones and enlarged and 1 cheapened postal facilities, &c, etc. But as we

are all too apt to forget the difficulties of the past amid the new found facilities of the pre¬ sent, I would just recall one instance, to show how slow were the means of communica ion with the outside world fifty years ago. Her present Majesty — our beloved Queen — suc¬ ceeded to the throne on the 20th June, 1837, and was proclaimed next day, Wednesday, the 21st, but the news did not reach Trinidad till the 8th of August, and Her Majesty's accession was not proclaimed till next day, Wednesday the 9th—just seven weeks after the event.

There is one matter, more intimately con¬ nected with the political than the material or moral condition of the Colony fifty years ago, that may be worth mentioning, especially at the present time. About that time (1836- 1837) serious defalcations had been discovered at the Colonial Treasury. The Treasurer had either been suspended or had resigned, and the Colonial Secretary had also been " removed" from office. Public curiosity was greatly excited, but as the Legislative Council was at this date, little betten

_ _ _than a local Star Chamber, sitting with closed) doors, and as apparently few if any of the docu¬ ments laid before it were ever published—all was mere guess work and conjecture—until, in some way or other, a pamphlet—purporting to be a Return of the state of the Colonial Trea¬ sury for 1837 bearing the signature of the Act¬ ing Taeasurer and which had been printed at the Government Press—found its way into the' hands of the editor of one of the then* local newspapers "The Trinidad Standard That paper not only published this document but commented on it—a course of proceeding

which drew forth an official communication from His Excellency tbe Lieuteitant Governor, Sir George Hill? expressing ".Jys Excellency's surprise at such conduck;ria|uoL stating that when the document had been" examined by Council, and had been completed and properly vouched, it would be published in the Boyal Gazette for the information of the public. (I may state here that although I have gone carefully through the Soyal Gazettes for 1837, 1838 and 1839, I have failed to find this " properly vouched" Statement or, in fact, any other official paper, save a few Ordinances.) The Acting Treasurer also forwarded an indignant commuicatiun to the editor. To those, and there are no doubt some here to-night, who knew the late Mr. Frederick Cam Bowen and the power of his pen, I need scarcely say that his reply was a crushing one. In it after dealing with the two letters, he writes :—" This is the position of Trinidad. In " form and almost in fact the Government is to " the people a sealed book, which they peruse, r extract from, or comment upon, only when it '" is left open to tht'.j, whether intentionally or " otherwise ; aficf we consider them not only " justified, but every man bound not to let slip " any opportunity which he may find of exposing " to the people what is doing and how it is being " done. The people look upon the Government " and themselves as standing in the relative " positions of two hostile armies, and they call " to their aid all the strategy of military warfare " to ascertain the state of the enemy's camp." That was the political position of Trinidad fifty years ago. What is it to-day It is true that at the present moment there is a move for greater political privileges, and whatever may be the result of that movement no one can deny that it is both natural and reasonable that as the Colony advances, the people should wish more direct representation in the Legislative Council than can be secured by mere nominees, how¬ ever able or however conscientious they may be —but, among all the evidences (and it is cer¬ tainly voluminous enough) given before the Royal Commission, not a single complaint on the lines of Mr. Bowen's indictment has been forthcoming. And why Simply because no such complaint can be made now, for not only are the meetings of Council at all times open to every one, but the Minutes of the proceed¬ ings and almost every paper laid before the Council are printed and published, and copies of them can be had by the Press free of all charge—and by the public at a mere nominal chaige ; nor is this all, scores of other papers, reports, statements, &c, are published, and many distributed gratis. On this subject, I can speak from fifteen years personal knowledge, and I really do not know what more could be printed or how greater publicity could be given to what is printed. It is no fault of the Govern¬ ment, and not from any want of publicity on its part, if the humblest peasant in even the most remote district of the island, is not fully



f

acquainted with every act of the Government. And it is only fair that I should add, that of all the Governors 1 have served under, none have shown so much anxiety as our present Ruler to give the fullest and freest information on every possible subject. (Applause).

Although I fear I have already occupied too much time with these remarks, I cannot allow this Treasury Statement, which is, I believe, the oldest document of its kind extant, to pass without referring to one or two items therof. The Cash Balance in the Treasury is stated at £80,567 sterling. Debts due to the Govern¬ ment £17,870 (including £17,000-the defalca¬ tions of two ex-Treasurers). Debts due by the Government including Court and Saving Bank Deposits £63,500. Balance to the credit of the Colony £34,900. Among several other curious items in this document, is a liability of the Government amounting to £208 4 11, and described as, Amount of private subscriptions towards Memorials to be erected to the memory of George III, the late Princess Charlotte and the victory of Waterloo. As neither the " good old king" the " deeply regretted princess" nor the " king making victory" have, so far as I know, been commemorated in any shape or form, it is probable that this amount may ulti¬ mately have been carried to the credit of the General Revenue of the Colony, and if so, the fact may prove interesting and valuable to the Committee of the Victoria Institute, who may I think justly lay claim to these unappropriated subscriptions. (Laughter.)

I now turn to the higher question of the educational and moral advancement of the Colony.

It is extfemely difficult to arrive at anything lik a correct view of the state of Education fifty years ago. It seems however quite clear that, up to that time, little, if anything, had been done to teach the slaves or " apprentices," as they were then called, even the elements of edu¬ cation. In the Blue Book Returns for 1838, I find that at least some of the schools were open at night for the. instruction of apprentices—and possibly this was the beginning of a better state of affairs.

According to the Blue Book Return for 1838 there were then in the Colony 71 schools, .with a nominal attendance of 4,i54 scholars.! Of these 24 were in Port-of-Spain, 3 in San Fer¬ nando and 44 in the country districts. Of these 71 schools, 23 with 981 scholars, (including the Convent of St. Joseph and St. George's College) were returned as Roman Catholic schools ; 21 of which were supported by fees and by the various parish priests, one, at St. Joseph, by town funds ; and one, at Arima, by the Indian Mission funds.

2 Schools with 229 Scholars were supported by the Cabildo.

9 643 were supported by the Government and Bishop of Bar- dos, jointly.

3 103 were supported by the Bishop of Bar¬ bados alone.

7 „ 418 were supported by the Church Mis¬ sionary Society.

1 133 were supported by the Ladies Society.

1 100 wasconducted gra¬ tuitously by the Rev. J. Rock.

1 „ 25 was supported by the Col. Govt.

24 1562 were supported by theMico Trust.

.ft As I have said, the Colonial Government sup¬ ported one school, allowing the teacher £80 per annum ; it also paid one half of the teachers' salaries of the nine schools maintained by it con¬ jointly with the Bishop of Barbados, the share of the Government being £41 13 4 for each school or £375 for the nine schools, making the Government's total contribution to the educa¬ tion of a population of 40,000 souls, £455—a fact which conclusively proves the small amount of interest then taken in popular education. The salaries of the teachers in those early days compare favourably with the amounts .now paid to teacheis and assistant teachers. /Of those salaries which are quoted in the Blue Book for 1838, the lowest is £43, the school having a nominal attendance cf 20. The other salaries quoted are £80, £107, £109, £120, £150, £190 and £200.

I have stated the foregoing facts more with a view to give an idea of the educational system of fifty years ago, than to draw any comparison between then and now. Such a comparison is out of the question in the completely changed condition of things.

> I may, however, state that/lthere are at the l>present time 156 public schools with an average I attendance of 14,665 scholars and that the cost

to the Colonial Government may be taken at £24,000 per annum or equal to 2s. 8d. per head of the population. Of course, that is exclusive of fees and voluntary contributions, but these, at the outside, would not amount to another l.s. per head.*/ Now, if I may be allowed to express an opinion on this most important subject, I would say, that not only do I consider this percentage much too low, but I think our present system of

1

V

T

* The Lecturer here referred to New Zealand and stated that the expenditure on Education in that Uolonyamounted to neatly £L per head-the result being that of those under 15 years of age 50 per cent, and of those above that age 94 per oent. could both read and write,



-V

i

y-

education is susceptible of very considerable im¬ provement and enlargement. (Applause.) J In my opinion, primary education in this Colony '"j will never become what it should be until it be made compulsory and free. (Loud applause.)! Cumpulsory free education of course pre-sup-* poses, as it necessitates, the maintenance of the Government system of Secular Schools, but there will always be plenty of room for assisted schools, denominational or otherwise, and so long as the payments by the Colony are made strictly according to results, it is only right and proper that eveiy respect should be paid to the conscientious scruples of all classes. (Applause

I pass on to the question of the moral ad¬ vancement of the colony during past fifty years.

Sfhe morals of the people of any country are now generally tested (1st) by the amount ofj Police Protection they require ; (2nd) by the! criminals sentenced in the Courts, and (3rd,) by', the nnmber of illegitimate births. If it were difficult to judge from existing records what was the real state of education fifty years ago, it is still more so in the matter of morality, for there are no statistics extant by which to apply the tests I have mentioned. That long past time is one which, I feel sure, every right thinking man in the community, to whatever race he may belong, would gladly see buried in com¬ plete oblivion, and if, for a moment I raise the veil to-night, it is in order that in the struggle onward and upward to better things, more hope and more courage may be obtained from the retrospection/ " The more wealthy and in- " fluential members of the community" says a reliable writer in 1836, "are the devotees ofilf " etiquette and fashiou. Their minds are gen- " erally well informed in the common acceptance " of the term, and their tastes are delicate even " to fastidiousness, in all things that come under " the indefinite laws of honour and gentility ; " but of their morality and religion I cannot " speak so freely although I am informed, and ' feel convinced, that things, especially as re- " gards the latter, are tending to the better." Of the general feeling in regard to morality among the lower classes, 1 can give a sad, but terribly plain proof froom the official Records of the time. In the Blue Book of 1838, under the heading of "Prisons," the usual question occurs as to the separation of the sexes, and here is the answer—" There is at present no separation " of males and females. During a state of " slavery this was not considered a serious mat- " ter, but in an improved state of society and " moral feeling it becomes a question of im- " portance." These two statements refer to the moral state of this colony only fifty years ago. And the question arises, I What is the moral state of Trinidad to-day Well, my own personal knowledge only dates back to 30 years ago, but I can unhesitatingly affirm that the moral tone of the community has risen very considerably during that period. Open immoralty is, I re¬ gret to say, still common enough in our midst,

even among those from whom better things might be expected, but it is not what it was thirty years ago—it is not brazen faced and trumpet tongued as it was then—nor are its votaries or victims, looked upon as they were wont to be, save by those who are equally de¬ praved with themselves. There are in Trinidad tcday a far greater number of " Homes" in the true acceptance of that holy word, and far hap¬ pier ones too, than there were thirty years ago. (Applause.)

There is however, still much to deplore—and the statistics of illegitimate births still tell a very sad tale, although not so bad as that told \ by the Stipendiary Justice of Port-of-Spain in ' his examination before the Royal Franchise/ Commission. Mr. Lewis gave the figures for ̂ 1880 and stated the- percentage of illegitimate births as 77'9 per cent. He then gave the,' figures for Jamaica 59 per cent. ; St. Croix, 63 i per cent. ; St. Tincent, 53 per cent. ; Antigua, 65'1 percent. But in this 77'9 per cent. Mr. ' Lewis included all the Coolie births as illegitimate. Technically he may be correct, but to do '• this, and then make comparisons with countries where there either are no Coolies or compara¬ tively few—is clearly wrong in principle and misleading in fact. In the Statistics for 1887, the Coolie births are given separately, and the figures in 1887 in round numbers were—

Coolie Births Legitimate Births Illegitimate Births

Total

1,500 1,500 3,000

6,000 The illegitimate births, exclusive of the Coolie

births were therefore 50 per cent, and while-this is a very large and deplorable percentage, it must not be forgotten, in comparing it with the illegitimate birth-rate of other countries, that Trinidad is a colony whose increased population has been almost entirely derived from immigra¬ tion, and that consequently the male population is considerably in excess of the female—a fact which should never be overlooked when dealing with such questions.

There is another statement made by Mr. Lewis in his evidence before the Commission, which, in justice to the people of this colony, I cannot allow to pass unnoticed. Mr. Lewis in answer to the question, whether marriage in this Colony was general, is reported to have replied. " It hardly exists." Now, I feel quite sure that in giving this answer Mr. Lewis had no intention of doing any injustice to the people of the colony, and that the answer was simply the re¬ sult of a want of any knowledge on the subject, beyond what was conveyed by the figures he had just quoted. There are however reliable Statistics on this question which completely re¬ fute Mr. Lewis's statement. From the Census Returns of 1861, 1871 and 1881, I find that, de¬ ducting the Coolie population, the proportion of



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married persons in this community was at these various periods 23 per cent., 26 per cent, and 29 per cent, respectively. Now, as you see, these have been increasing percentages, and that is encouraging, nor is the peicentage for 1881 so very small when compared with that of older Countries—with their centuries of civilization and religion — as for example England 39 per cent., Austria and Prussia 40 per cent., Belgium 37 per cent. Scotland 35 per cent. Ireland 34 per cent. While I rejoice to be able to give the figures I have quoted for this Colony, I cannot but deplore the large numbers of our labouring and artizan classes who are leading immoral lives, the result, in my opinion, to a very large extent, especially in the towns, of that social plague spot—the Barrack system. Nothing so tends to encourage and perpetuate the low state of morality existing among our labouring population as their present system of herd¬ ing together in Barracks. It is quite impos¬ sible to preserve even the most ordinary decencies of life under the circumstances sur¬ rounding these barrack dwellings—and their destructive effects on the morals of children are too well known to need any mention from me. I readily admit, that this question of the housing of our lower classes, is one that is surrounded with very great difficulties—the high rate of interest ruling for money, and the cost of building and building materials, being, for the present, apparently insurmountable abstacles to any scheme for the erection, as in England, of Model Dwellings for the labouring classes. It must not however be lost sight of, that this question of the housing of the lower classes is more important than any other question bearing on the moral advancement of the people.

And now, Mr. Chairman, I think it is more than time that I brought this very long address to a close, and with your permission, I will do so with a few words to the young men present, and for whose benefit more paiticularly, I under¬ stand this Library and Reading Room has been

started. While going over the old records, in order to obtain the facts and figures which I have laid before you to-night, I have felt myself, almost unconsciously, recalling the living actors in those scenes of 50 years ago—peopling, in imagination, the then infant colony, struggling out of a transition state, with its real living characters, and as they passed in review before my mind, I have almost imagined I could hear one say " Yes, I had a hand in that improve¬ ment," or another, " I began that good work." Yes, in that past which I have been describing, there were zealous, active workers, and we are reaping the benefits of their labours to-day ; and there are in the present many earnest workersf or the welfare and advancement of the Colony; but, young men, what of the future ?—that future in which, if your richly gifted conntry is to go on and prosper, materially, socially and morally you must be the workers. The field is large, the work is great, but the reward will be the highest satisfaction that true men can enjoy— the satisfaction of having done your duty. Strain every nerve, therefore, in the acquisition of sound, true knowledge, so that each of you may be able to do his share, however small, in help¬ ing on the advancementof your common country. Let your private lives be true, and pure, and noble, and so become an example to all around you ; let your public actions rise above all mean sordid or selfish motives ; be earnest, be active, workers, not dreamers, so that when the time comes for you, in your turn, to drop the mantle on to other shoulders, you may be able to say with the humble poet—himself an earnest worker for the good of his fellow-men—

Up and away, like the dew in the morning, That soars from the earth to its home in the Sun, So let me steal away, gently and lovingly, Only remembered by what I have done.

Up and away, like the odours of sunset, That sweeten the twilight as evening comes onj So would I be to this world's weary dwellers, Only remembered by what I have done.

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(Loud applause.)



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Documents

The material and moral progress of Trinidad during last fifty years: a lecture delivered at the opening of the San Fernando Library & Reading Room