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224
officers had a pery beneficial effect. This Ordinance was
proceeded with very shortly after my arrival in the Colony,
~2329/09
but since I had received instructions from Lord Elgin to
introduce no legislation on this subject without prior re-
ference to the Colonial Office some delay took place before
it was enacted. It was sent home in draft on the 31st May,
1907, and became law on March 5th, 1908. It required some
time to see how far the new law would be effective in
suppressing abuses, and I decided to give it a year's trial.
At the end of the year I went home on short leave, and on
my return I lost no time in enquiring into the matter. The
results of my enquiries were not altogether satisfactory,
and on December 4th (before I had received your despatch
under reply) I addressed a despatch to the Governor of the
Straits Settlements of which I enclose a copy.
Enclosure 3.
4.
This despatch sete out very
clearly the points in which I consider the existing sys-
tem to be unsatisfactory, the practical and immediate
improvements suggested, and the ultimate object in view,
viz. the total abolition of Contract labour.
I will in-
form you of the result
-
whatever it may be of this
correspondence with the Governor of the Straits Settlements.
5.