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splutters.  At a three-man conference at King's House, Sir John Macpherson, then CDW Comptroller, expressed to Sir John Huggins that he did not think CDW money should be spent on infant schools.  "To hell with that.  No English foreigner can come here and tell me what's good for Jamaica.  I was born here.  I was a barefoot boy running around the bush and shooting bud*;  I must know better than anybody from abroad what's best for my country", shouted third conferee McPherson in anger.  His outburst drove the two Sir Johns into a huddle.  Result:  the 10-Yr. Plan included six infant schools.

Barrant's Backing.  When Finance Minister Sir Harold Allan was slated for Geneva, Bustamante toyed with the idea of seating St. Mary's Roy D. Lindo on ExCo.  McPherson and his fire-eating little stablemate Isaac W. Barrant (East St. Thomas) spearheaded the action that killed Lindo's chances.  Westmoreland's "Cliff" C. Campbell was chosen instead.  Had Busta bucked the McPherson-Barrant combine, not five but possibly ten men would have walked out the Party.

Occasionally there are rumours that McPherson is "in bad" with the Party;  but the rank and file back him in every bit of trouble which his political immaturity often lands him.  Between him and Barrant exists a death-pact-like bond.  One rumour reached Barrant that Busta was thinking of running in Mac's constituency next election.  Barrant ominously warned the chief to lay off.  Since then, the party has been reorganized;  Mac is on the executive.

Jamaica First.  Jehoida McPherson asks no ExCo favours, expects none.  His Jamaica-First mentality makes him suspicious of the official members, including the Governor.  In the House he often plays "big boy" deliberately to make up for his lack of political double-talk – and to get his way.  His knack of breaking tensions by creating spontaneous laughter has saved many sessions.

Lately he has broadened his political horizon.  In the combined absence of Ministers Frank Pixley, E. R. Dudley Evans and Allan abroad, he had to pilot most social welfare and agricultural matters through the House.  No Allan in political sagacity, no Evans in suavity, and no Pixley in eloquence, he has nevertheless done an admittedly good job without neglecting his own ministry.  His guiding force:  the commonsense of the Jamaican common man from whom he came, and for whom his politics are slanted.

IDLING MACHINERY

A labour force survey will first have to be taken.  It will include all the over-14s of the 1 1/3 million population.  Next, from the "votables" in this overall tabulation (those not in prison, asylum, poor house, foreign lands, not infirm, decrepit or daffy), new voting lists will be compiled.  For districts where there has been an election of any kind up to three months before, the old lists will do.  Otherwise, new lists will be made.

Completed lists will next be posted up in public places for about a week.  During that time interested citizens are expected to look them through and 

* Jamaicanese for bird.

SPOTLIGHT, DECEMBER, 1948.