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But the resolution was not
the law of that Colony. limited to that class of cases, but was intended to apply generally and to make unlawful any conspiracy involving a transgression of the laws of another part of the Empire relating to commerce, e.g. Pure Foods Acts, Secret Commissions Act, Customs and Tariff Acts, etc. The growth of inter-imperial commerce made it increasingly necessary that the commercial and other laws of each part should be made thoroughly effective.
On the receipt of this despatch telegrams were addressed to the Governors of Hong Kong and the Straits Settlements, asking for a full report whether legislation was, in their opinion, desirable to pre- vent acts of conspiracy to defeat the Immigration Restriction Act of Australia.
Replies by telegram and despatch have been received from both Governments. The Governor of the Straits reports that during the last three years, 1908, 1909, and 1910, according to figures given to him by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth, thirty-twe Chinese have been discovered attempting to enter Australia illicitly by steamer from Singapore. He has, however, received replies from the Agents of the steamship lines which trade from the Colony to Australian Ports and only three cases can be traced involving altogether 24 stowaways. Only one of these cases occurred in 1910 and every effort is already made by the Agents and officers of the ships to pre- vent stowing away in view of the heavy penalties to which they are subjected if Asiatics are found on
board in Australian waters.
A
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