CIE
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 153.
CHINESE EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.
The following documents have been laid before the Legislative Council,
By His Excellency's Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th April, 1881.
320
RECO
3 AUG !!!
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary,
MESSRS. GEO. R. STEVENS & Co. TO ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY.
HONGKONG, 4th October, 1878.
SIR,--Referring to our letter of the 1st instant, we beg to mention that, with respect to the double medical examination and detention of the men in a depôt, alluded to, we made the application more with the view of saving time than for any other reason.
The men we send to Australia are subjected by us to a very severe examination as regards their physique, and we employ Dr. ADAMS, the health officer and medical inspector of emigrants, for this purpose, who gives a certificate for them.
In the case of the 62 men per Gunga, we had to reject over 10 per cent of the applicants, and it takes time to get such a number of thoroughly healthy and sound men, whom alone we engage, together. We would point out that though the men sign an agreement, and therefore come under the category of Contract Labourers, still what they undertake to do is merely to serve in various capacities in the Company's steamers or Dock Yards, and that they are actually only bound by the agreements to sign Articles upon arrival in Sydney.
Should the men fail to carry out their part of the agreement, their securities would be liable for the advances made by us here, for which the agreements are our only protection. You will observe that the Company binds itself to provide a passage back to this for the men after the expiry of the term of service, and this places them in a much better position than if they merely shipped for a voyage.
As it will require much more time to make all the necessary arrangements than can be done between this and the 8th instant, we have decided to postpone the departure of the Ocean steam-ship until the 11th instant, and we trust that His Excellency the Governor will grant us the required permission without delay, so as to enable us to set to work at once.
To the Honourable CHARLES MAY,
Acting Colonial Secretary, &c., &c.
We have, &c.,
GEO. R. STEVENS & Co.,
Agents, Australasian S. N. Company.