JNF-The-Working-Class-Struggle-of-Half-a-Century

After this, the land would vest absolutely in the Crown and the Authorised
Officer and his agents, assistants and workmen could enter and
take possession of the land. Lands could also be acquired by private
treaty. If difficulties arose over the payment or apportionment of compensation,
a Broad of Assessment would be appointed to settle the matter.
The Land Settlement Act provided specifically for the declaration
of any area of Crown Land to be a Land Settlement area as well as for
the establishment of small holdings on such land. However all of this
did not generate any great movement toward the desired goal; the government
of the day continued to drag its feet. Estate after estate came
on the market and was bought, while the Government did but little to
secure for the landless.
Lamberts Episode
In October 1940 the Workers League forwarded to the authorities a resolution
urging the purchase of Lamberts Estate (538 acres), which was
then on the market. However the estate was later sold by public auction
to a private individual at a price which exceeded the Government’s bid
by about $5,000. Early in November, the joint Advisory Committee of
Labour (comprised of the Directors of the Workers League and the Executive
of the then newly formed St. Kitts Nevis Trades and Labour
Union) submitted a resolution expressing very deep disappointment at
the Government’s failure to purchase Lamberts; and requesting an explanation.
Administrator J.D. Harford responded in December 1940 that
he had obtained the approval of the Governor and the Secretary of State
for the purchase of the estate for a price not exceeding a certain amount;
this was the maximum sum which, in the opinion of the government and
its advisers, it was reasonable to pay. Thus this estate had slipped
through the fingers of the Government. It was clear that the enactment
of land acquisition measures was merely the passing of one hurdle; but
the carrying out of the letter and spirit of the law for the benefit of the
working masses was quite another thing.
Estates continued to change hands. On 9 th December 1941 another
joint resolution of Labour’s Joint Advisory Committee was forwarded
to the authorities. It (a) deplored the fact that the Government
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