JAMAICA IN WAR TIME: HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 4

JAMAICA IN WAR TIME: HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION

Jamaica, some 5000 miles from the nearest land battle front, is bemg both materially and spiritually affected by the war. Before the outbreak of hostilities the island was served by four considerable shipping lines. ‘The Great White Fleet.” operated by the United Fruit Company, linked ,the island with the eastern and Central and South America the Elders and Fyffes Line and the Jamaica Line were the links with England and Europe; and the Canadian National “Lady” boats with eastern Canada. The service was augmented by numerous other lines, such as the Aluminium Line and the ships of the Standard Fruit Company. „ . Until the latter part of 1939 an increasing number of luxury liners were making Kingston a port of call on their world cruises. The island was then exporting some 20,000,000 stems •of bananas annually, 100.000 tons of sugar, and quantities of citrus fruits and other tropical produce. The sugar and citrus industries in particular were making encouragmg > progress, and Jamaica was fast becoming an important tourist resort. But it was almost entirely dependent on imports for manufactured goods and largely so for such foodstuffs as dried fish, flour, meat, butter, rice, peas, cereals, and chocolate. All the coal, fuel oil, lubricating oil,, and petrol consumed in the island came from abroad. Since January, 1840, the number of ships calling at Jamaica has steadily decreased and, as a consequence the export trade has almost completely ceased, while imports have been reduced to a minimum. Hence considerable dislocation of life in the island: far more than is generally

realised. The shortage of petrol atone time, for instance, was more acute m Jamaica than it has ever been in England. ‘For a brief period there was no petrol for sale. Meat is not easy to get, and salted cod, which has usually been imported from Newfoundland and is one of the principal foods of the negro population, was for a time virtually unobtainable.

Inherent Defects Even the peace-time economy of the island failed to provide most of the peasants and workers with a fair standard of living, and social services have never been adequate. The West India Royal Commission, under the chairmanship of Lord Moyne, was fully aware of this and of the other fundamental fact that the solution must lie with agriculture and depend on the development of secondary crops for local consumption as well as for export. The hardships now encountered serve but to emphasise the inherent defects of the peace-time economy. The leasing to the Americans of facilities for a naval and air base has resulted in an influx of extra spending power and provided some relief from unemployment among the labouring classes, a number of whom have been employed by the base contractors. This American money, although it will eventually contribute to the enrichment of the island, can bring little alleviation of present difficulties, which arise from insufficient production for local needs rather than from scarcity of money. It does, however, serve to improve the fairness of distribution of such goods as exist or are produced, by placing ready cash in the hands of more of the poorer classes. The American authorities, with, great goodwill, are doing all they can to prevent incidents due to colour prejudice. The spiritual problem of Jamaica is how best to overcome an age-old apathy. The natives have never been very independent. Since they were freed from slavery, over a hundred years ago, they have been accustomed to “look to bakra" (the white man) to. provide them with employment and maintain a strict supervision over their agricultural labours. Left.to their own devices they would be quite unable immediately to develop any effective method of food production, They would tend to reduce their inadequate diet rather than grow more. In a recent speech Sir Ivan

[By a Correspondent of "The Times.”]

Davson. the chairman of the India Committee, took cognisance J this moral need in the following words: — ■ “Increased domestic food production already being stimulated by the Go* eminent; but, while governments cm point the way, they can do litUe.wjS. out the enterprise and industry # dj communities themselves." . T Recent stirrings in Jamaica inCjjl that the “man in the banana walM) becoming aware of his freedom urida British rule. He is beginning to realise that there is more to life than wajtiu to be told what to do. A not in«JJ siderable .number of Jamaicans hi*, spontaneously come to this country tj play their part in the Army, the Navy and ' Royal Air Force, as well,ajfi industry. The many, however, are da in need of stimulation. ’ Hardships to the war are, to some extent, provM. ing this stimulation, and the peopli'ite beginning to exert themselves. Men!, over, the birth of political life It; Jamaica is causing many to think te ! - themselves. Yet it is a long jouflSi they are embarking on, and they hbi set-backs and failures to face before they will become a community accept, ing responsibility for its own w#

Social Welfare The war provides the Colonial Qfflfl with an excellent opportunity for eating these people in initiative attd | sense of responsibility: the Royal Cpa. mission appears to have furnished® Colonial Office with first-hand, Khow* ledge on which to base its policy; tM the Colonial Development and Welte* Act has opened a channel for finance, It is clear that no political or economic progress can be made without a vigor, ous programme of social welfare, edit, cation, and medical service, Thonjr the full report of the Royal CoranE. sion has never been published, bjrljjj recommendations the comtniitloa showed a realisation of this fact. A4Uriv has been made by the Colonial velopment and Welfare Act, tlMef which £5,000,000 annually is noway# able to the Colonial Empire. 'Sines tSi' Moyne proposals apply only to 3,000.000 people in the West Indies, waji form less than 5 per cent, of the popife lation of the Colonial Empire, It will’ be seen that, if a good job is to be dona much more money will be requital The Moyne proposals have so .-'Jm? beeh implemented by the of Sir Frank Stockdale as Comptrcffi, Development and Welfare |S,mj West Indies, with a staff including g|j| Rupert Briercliffe as medical adVMI Professor Simey as social weUatd|® ; viser, arid Mr A. J. Wakefield as'sijrjft cultural adviser. The Stockdale mission, as it is called, has mads oni ' complete tour of the West Indies m is now halfway through a second.' la, addition, land settlement has. bite begun in Jamaica, where a labour ajf ! viser is already at work. As the commission has not yet completed its ra*< port, the matter rests .there. ,

Self-Government = Certain political recommendittolilj were made by the Moyne CbmmiwOQi a new constitution was a new franchise based upon unlv«#J; adult suffrage. No conorete.sugg4K tlons were offered on self-govermtifiM-in the near future. This ultimate, 'jet) was recognised, but the effect of. & new Constitution in practice has hfiPl seriously questioned. The wbolMg® remains in abeyance, depending taking of a census as soon as the mSl# are created. It is difficult to aeipraf' could have been hastens Until Sir Frank Stockdale’g reponlSf, completed it will not be possible M; those unfamiliar with Jamaican fifftra;' to appreciate the full magnltude c of;|| task. A great work is begun whichat properly executed, will five/tbtouSfc, history as a credit to British, oolOßwpolicy.. When, as seems irievHibles&' Frank Stockdale reveals that tbe already forthcoming is onlya fractM; of what will be necessary, then -the issue must be squarely faced brM British taxpayer. Jamaica hag pot® means to provide more than a tip: part of what is required.