SESSION OF 1884-'85. CAP. LIX. (Assented to 5th November 1885.) BARBADOS. An Act for promoting the trade relations of Barbados with Great Britain and the United States of America by a reciprocal tariff between the two countries. WE HEREAS there has been for some time past, owing mainly to the introduction into Great Britain of bounty fed beet root sugar from the Continent of Europe, a severe depression in the sugar industry of the West Indies, and such depression if it continues must be attended with fatal results to the cultivation of the sugar cane in this Island; And Whereas repeated efforts have been made in this Island to obtain some relief, and finally a deputation of proprietors and others interested in West India property waited on the Secretary of State for the Colonies some time last year, and laid before him their grievances, representing that in consequence of the competition with bounty fed sugar and from other causes, the cultivation of cane sugar in the West Indies was threatened with extinction, and all persons dependent on it with ruin, especially those to whom it was their only staple, unless some steps should be taken to r lieve it of the unfair competition to which it was subjected; And Whereas on that occasion the Secretary of State for the Colonies, after assuring the deputation that no remedy whatever could be hoped for from the removal of bounties, or from the admission by the United States of the favoured nation LAWS OF BARBADOS. clause as applied to the West Indies, pointed to a reciprocal tariff with the United States, which the United States were willing to accept, as the only means of relief to the sugar production of the West Indies; And Whereas an agent was sent over to the United States in the person of Mr. Nevile Lubbock, who was selected by the West India Body with the entire approval and sanction of both the Colonial and Foreign Ministers, for the express purpose of advising and assisting at a negotiation for a reciprocal tariff, and under these circumstances a draft Convention was arranged with the United States Minister, which provided very favourable terms for the West Indies; And Whereas the feeling of the people in this Island is in favour of such a reciprocal trade arrangement as that laid down in the draft Convention, as has been shewn by a petition extensively signed by persons of property and respectability in the Island and presented to both Branches of the Legislature, praying that a reciprocal trade tariff with the United States, in accordance with the above mentioned draft Convention, might be embodied in a Bill and receive legislative sanction; And Whereas such a reciprocal tariff would greatly conduce to the benefit of this Island by promoting trade and commerce with the United States which, from their geographical position, afford the nearest and most natural market from which they derive the great bulk of their foodstuffs, and to which a large portion of the staple crop of this Island is annually sent, and with which, therefore, it is desirable to cultivate the closest commercial relations; Be it therefore enacted by SESSION OF 1884-'85. the Governor, Council, and Assembly of this Island, and by the authority of the same, as follows; I. This Act may be cited as, "The Reciprocal Tariff between Barbados, Great Britain and the United States of America Act, 1885." II. All articles hereafter mentioned in schedule C, coming from Great Britain or from the United States, shall be admitted into this Island, free of duty, and all articles named in schedule D shall be admitted at a reduction of fifty per cent upon the rate of customs duty now fixed, or which may hereafter be fixed during the continuance of this Act, provided that the said articles be the growth, manufacture, or production of Great Britain or the United States, and provided further, that the said articles be carried in vessels under the flag and registry of Great Britain or the United States, such vessels to be duly registered, and bona fide owned by British subjects or by citizens of the United States. III. This Act shall be taken and construed to be a purely conditional one, and shall come into operation only so soon as and remain in force only so long as the United States shall on their part admit to all the ports of the United States produce and productions of this Island as follows; All articles named in schedule A free of duty, and all articles named in schedule B at a reduction of twenty five per cent from the rates now fixed or which may hereafter be fixed during the continuance of this Act; provided the said articles be the growth, manufacture or production of this Island, and provided further that the said articles be carried in Short title. Articles in Schedule C from Great Britain or United States to be free. Articles in Sche dule D at a reduction Act conditional; to come into opera tion and be in force upon certain conditions. Provisoes If necessary to make good loss of revenue by export molasses. LAWS OF BARBADOS. vessels under the flag and registry of Great Britain or of the United States, such vessels to be duly registered and bona fide owned by subjects of Great Britain or by citizens of the United States. IV. Should it be found necessary to make good the loss of revenue in this Island caused tax rate on sugar and by the reduction or abolition of customs duties as mentioned in section two by the imposition of an export tax, such tax shall in no case be made to exceed the rate of one pound per ton on sugar, and the rate of five shillings per ton on molasses Tonnage and other charges on United States vessels bring ing cargo or coming in ballast for purpose of loading cargo. Proviso. Under what cir cumstances United States or British vessels exempt from dues levied by general government. V. Vessels of the United States coming from any port or ports of the United States with cargo wholly the growth, product or manufacture of the United States, or in ballast for the purpose of loading with cargo for the United States shall pay upon entering any port of this Island the same tonnage, clearance, or other dues as are or may be levied on vessels belonging to Great Britain or this Island engaged in the inter-colonial trade, and coming directly from Great Britain or from any British Colony, and as to pilotage, port, wharf and hospital charges, they shall pay the same charges as are levied on British vessels or vessels belonging to this Island under similar circumstances; provided always that similar advantages be accorded by the United States to British vessels or vessels belonging to this Island trading from this island to the United States. VI. Vessels of the United States or British vessels trading with this Island having entered a port of this Island voluntarily or in distress with or without cargo and sailing from the said port without trans SESSION OF 1884-'85 acting any commercial operations shall be exempt from all tonnage, clearance, navigation, or port dues levied by the general government, and as to local charges the vessels of the United States shall pay no more than British vessels or vessels belonging to this Island under like circumstances, In case of entrance in distress, the discharge, reloading or transhipment caused thereby, the necessary expense for provisioning the crew, and the sale of the damaged merchandize shall not be considered a commercial transaction when the proper customs official shall have previously authorised it. Provided always that similar advantages be accorded by the United States to British vessels or vessels belonging to this Island trading from this Island to the United States. VII. This Act shall continue in force until (and inclusive of) the thirty first day of December one thousand eight hundred and ninety. Provided always that this section shall in no way affect the operation of section three of this Act. VIII. This Act shall not come into operation unless and until the officer administering the Government notifies by proclamation that it is Her Majesty's pleasure not to disallow the same, and thereafter it shall come into operation upon such day as the officer administering the Government shall notify by the same or any other proclamation. Provided always that this section shall in no way affect the operation of section three of this Act As to local charges United States vessels to pay no more than British. In case of entrance in distress, &c., customs official may exercise certain authority. Proviso. Duration of Act. Proviso. Suspending clause. Proviso. |