495
DESPATCH.
No.
143
907 May
No.
No. 23279
(Subject.)
CS 23279
REC
* 1 JUL 07
Draft cherise Eregnation Onde
revious Paper,
Lube mito
absequent Paper.
Upades Laces
(Minutes.)
Sections 3 and 11 seem unobjectionable but
I would deprecate the introduction of the other suggested changes at present. They would result in leaving free emigration practically uncontrolled. How far this is desirable may be a matter of opinion, but I doubt whether at the present time it is desirable to draw unnecessary attention to the traffic.
Para 3 of 23339 shews that as a matter of fact there really is very little free emigration, the majority of the coolies having undertaken to enter into contracts on their arrival, and therefore belonging to the class which it is here proposed to call "assisted emigrants". There will therefore be no great inconvenience caused by keeping the law unchanged. Moreover, it seems very bad policy to call attention to the fact that the nominally free emigrants are really practically under contract, as it gives a handle to the opponents of the traffic, who might reasonably agitate for an...