241
LOVE
Tance
CHINESE LABOURERS.
280
PAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION OF
cargo
And yet, as already said, we do not think we can fairly be called upon to pledge ourselves to the result, which must necessarily depend on various contingencies. For example, in the West Indian estimate, and also in ours, which adopted theirs in that particular, credit is taken for £600 to be gained by a cargo of rice. Now, we confess that we should doubt whether an emigrant ship with a full complement can have room for such a cargo; and the rate of profit must also be uncertain. But on this point we have only followed the opinion of merchants who are themselves interested in the bounty. We ought also to observe that no direct allowance is made in the estimates for mortality on the passage, although the bounty will only be payable on those passengers who are landed alive.
Having thus once more reviewed this often discussed question, we would request leave to submit all the data to the higher discretion of Lord Stanley; and if, adverting to the various elements of uncertainty, his Lordship should come to the conclusion that a moderate addition can with propriety be made to the bounty, we shall be very glad to find the importers gain this indulgence. But we have explained the grounds on which, as referees on the point, we do not see how we could suggest a higher rate of bounty than that which was universally agreed to before it was announced, and which has since been voluntarily acted on by those who are best qualified to judge of it, and who will be the losers should it prove insufficient.
The other rule against rendering advances of money in China repayable after arrival, was inserted in accordance with a general principle, from which we understood that Lord Stanley would admit of no departure. On this point also we can only now leave Mr. Davis's representation for the decision of the Secretary of State.
We have, &c. (Signed) T. FREDERICK ELLIOT.
JOHN G. SHAW LEFEVRE.
James Stephen, Esq.,
&c.
&c.
CHINESE LABOURERS TO THE WEST INDIES.
281
CHINESE
And the chief consideration of all, perhaps, is that the best labourers are precisely those most likely to be tempted away by advantageous offers from other parties, and the worst the most likely to remain and enforce the continuance of contracts which, in their case, will afford no compensation to the importer.
With respect to the additional period during which the risk of mortality is to be incurred, we apprehend that it will probably be deemed objectionable to make a direct payment for parties who may die during that time; but, adverting to the general tenour of the foregoing arguments, and considering the unavoidably onerous character of agreements which are to be permanently binding on the employer, but may be cancelled at repeated intervals by the labourer, it seems worthy of Lord Stanley's consideration whether the general benefit of the emigrants' services, during the first half-year, might not be left as a kind of premium to cover the extra risks attendant upon contracts, and the whole bounty be paid upon such of them as may leave their employers at the end of this period. There would still be a graduated scale of bounty, as at present, but commencing from the end of six months instead of from the day of landing.
Another point to which our attention has been requested is the inconvenience and the unsettling effect of making the agreements terminable at such short successive intervals as six months. We think that, in the first instance, the labourers should not be bound for more than half a year; but after that time it will probably be deemed not unreasonable that the agreements might be allowed to run for successive periods of twelve instead of six months.
In order to place the practical effect of these views in a clearer light, we take the liberty of appending, for consideration, the sketch of a memorandum which might serve to convey the proposed alterations to the West India body, or any individuals who have hitherto taken an interest in the subject.
We have, &c.
James Stephen, Esq., &c. &c.
(Signed)
T. FREDERICK ELLIOT. JOHN G. SHAW LEFEVRE.
Enclosure in No. 31.
9, Park-street, Westminster,
November 27, 1843.
Encl. in No. 31.
No. 31.
No. 31.
COPY of a LETTER from the COLONIAL LAND and EMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS to JAMES STEPHEN, Esq.
Sir,
Colonial Land and Emigration Office, November 24, 1843.
In another report, of this day's date, we have adverted to the grounds on which the bounty of £65 was named to cover the importation of Chinese emigrants into the West Indies. Several parties, as Lord Stanley is aware, have sent, under those terms, for Chinese labourers if they can be procured without contracts; but none, it appears, have sent for them with contracts. And yet it is feared that, unless under actual engagement, the labourers will not embark at all, and so the entire experiment fail for this season. It seems worth while, therefore, to inquire whether, whatever may be the proper amount of bounty on merely importing labourers, some further means may not be found of indemnifying those who are obliged to incur the additional expense, risk, and anxiety which must attach to introducing them under contract.
On this subject we believe that the principal objection is felt to the rule which abates the bounty one-fifth for the first six months the labourers remain with their employers. It has been represented to us that, while the importer without contracts only runs the risk of such mortality as may unavoidably happen on the voyage, the other party loses the whole cost of passage on such emigrants as may die at any time during the six months afterwards. He is also exposed to the loss of services by any sickness during that period, being precisely the one when newly-imported labourers must be most liable to that misfortune. There may be supposed to be some expense in the houses and provision-grounds which employers would prepare, in order to make their people comfortable and induce them to remain.
THE Secretary of State having seen reason to consider that additional expense and risk must be thrown upon parties who may find it necessary to procure Chinese labourers with instead of without contracts, and therefore that the same bounty which may be a proper indemnity for one proceeding would not compensate the other, has thought it advisable to modify, in the following particulars, the rules announced on this subject in a notice from the Commissioners of Land and Emigration, dated the 27th of October last:-
1st. Instead of an abatement of one-fifth of bounty for every six months the labourer may remain with his employer, no abatement will be made for the first six months; and the whole bounty will be paid on such labourers under contract as may rescind their contracts at the end of that period.
2ndly. The successive abatements afterwards will reckon from the end of the first six months instead of from the date of landing.
3rdly. Considering the inconvenience that may attend too frequent liabilities to a termination of engagements, the following rule is substituted for the sixteenth of the former rules on bounty: -The contracts must not be for any longer time of service in the colony than five years; and must contain a proviso that it shall be competent to the labourer, upon making one month's previous declaration to that effect, before a stipendiary magistrate, to terminate the contract at the pre-end of the first six months in the colony, and of every succeeding period of either six or twelve months, as the contracting parties may insert in the agreement. The magistrates will have suitable instructions to apprize employers of any such declarations.
4thly. Bounty will continue, as before, to be payable only on labourers who rescind their contracts at the respective periods, and not upon any who may die pending the contracts.
By order of the Board,
------, Secretary.
No. 32.
COPY of a LETTER from JAMES STEPHEN, Esq. to the COLONIAL LAND and EMIGRATION COMMISSIONERS.
Gentlemen,
Downing-street, November 29, 1843.
I AM directed by Lord Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th inst., and to acquaint you in reply that his Lordship approves of the
No. 32.
282