PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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point. There is no doubt that if the provisions to which he refers are not necessary they are not justifiable.
15. The Governor points out the difference between the law in the West Indies and the Mauritius in regard to back passages. While in the former back passages, or a commutation for them, are universal, in Mauritius no provision of the kind is made, and the immigrant, if he does not obtain an independent position, must continue an agri- cultural labourer without any chance of returning to India, or any prospect before him in old age but the poor-house, the vagrant depôt, or 'suicide." In his despatches of 28th July, No. 118, and 21st September, No. 138, Sir A. Gordon attributes the alarming frequency of suicide among male immigrants to Nostalgia. When emigration to Mauritius was first set on foot, the provision of back passages formed a condition of it, in the same way as in the West Indies. But in 1854, the obligation was, with the consent of the Indian Government, given up, the cost of such passages at that time being only about 11., sometimes as low as 15s. It was alleged that any immigrant could, with moderate industry, pay for his own back passage, and that it was, therefore, not worth while to throw the burden on the planters. The converse of the argument, from the low price of passage, would have been equally strong, but no doubt the object of the Planters was not so much to relieve themselves from the charge as to furnish an additional motive to immigrants to remain in the Colony. I gather from Sir A. Gordon's despatch that this effect has been produced, but with injurious results. The worst part of the immigrants have remained, and constitute that body of old immigrants against whom the Ordinance 31, of 1867, provides such exceptional safeguards. The industrious and frugal immigrants have no difficulty in providing themselves with back passages. The Governor, under these circumstances, strongly advocates the restoration of the back passage, in the interest both of the Planters and of the immigrant. He adds that the Protector shares his opinion, although he has not ventured publicly to avow sentiments which would be in the highest degree unpopular in the Colony.
Sir A. Gordon, at the end of his despatch of 21st September, thus sums up the alterations in the law and practice which he would propose :—
1st. The provision of a back passage after ten years' residence.
2nd. A more efficient system of inspection.
3rd. Payment of wages at regular and short fixed periods.
4th. Prohibition of re-engagements till previous engagements have expired. 5th. Power in the Executive to cancel engagements and to withhold the transmission of requisitions.
6th. Prohibition of Stipendiary Magistrates holding any interests in sugar estates. In his despatch of 18th August, he expresses a doubt whether an Ordinance to amend the existing laws could be carried in the Legislative Council, the unofficial members, who are all Planters, or connected with Planters, having a preponderating influence there. He therefore suggests, in his later despatch, that the amendments he proposes might, perhaps, be best effected by the issue of an Order of Her Majesty in Council applicable to all the Colonies which import Indian immigrants. How far Her Majesty's Government would be prepared to legislate by Order in Council for the Colonies in question it is beyond my province to inquire; at all events, there would probably be a difficulty in framing an Order equally suitable to all without omitting a great portion of the details, which are among the most important points with which an immigration law ought to deal. If, however, Sir George Young accepts the proposal that has been made to him to prepare a Draft Ordinance to carry out the recommenda- tions of the Commissioners in British Guiana, that draft might serve as a model for a similar Ordinance in Mauritius. There need be no fear that the Governor, if supported by the Home Government, would have any difficulty in overcoming the opposition of the planting interest to whatever measures are decided to be necessary for the well- being of the immigrants. It would only be necessary to make the enactment of such measures the condition of the continuance of the immigration, and opposition must be paralysed. Emigration to Mauritius was stopped some years ago by the Indian Government in consequence of defects in the quarantine system of the Colony.
I have, &c.
(Signed) T. W. C. MURDOCH.
(No. 216.)
Sir,
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No. 17.
The Earl of Kimberley to Governor the Hon. Sir A. Gordon.
Downing Street, December 16, 1871. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin,* on the subject of the condition of the Indian immigrants in the Colony under your government.
2. With regard to the interesting comparison which you have drawn between their condition and that of the coolies employed in the West Indian Colonies, I have been in communication with the Emigration Commissioners; and I have now to acquaint you with the conclusions at which I have arrived on the several questions you have raised.
3. I am clearly of opinion that the Executive Government should have the power to refuse to allot immigrants to estates, where there has been an excessive rate of mortality, or where serious cases of neglect are proved to have occurred; and that the West Indian practice in this respect should be established without delay in Mauritius.
4. I am not satisfied that there is any necessity for limiting to any particular period of the year the time at which requisitions may be sent in for emigrants, as the voyage from India to Mauritius may be made at all seasons, and you do not state that there is any practical inconvenience in the present arrangement.
5. Nor do I find any reason for altering the system under which emigrants are engaged in India for particular estates in the Colony.
8. As to the question of part payment of wages in rations, I am not at present disposed to think that any change is required. The practice has its acknowledged use in lessening the temptations to which the Indian is liable, of stinting himself of the necessaries of life for the sake of saving money, and that it is not felt by the immigrant himself as a grievance, appears to be shown by the plentiful supply of labour procurable at the present low rate of wages, coupled with rations. But care should be taken that the amount of wages and rations should be clearly and correctly stated to intending emigrants in India.
7. You have pointed out very forcibly the evils attendant on the present system of the payment of wages monthly, and the difficulties of recovering them when fallen into arrear; amendment of the law in this respect is much needed, and payment of wages not less often than once a fortnight should certainly be required.
8. I also agree with you, that the reindenture of an immigrant should not be allowed till the previous indenture has terminated, and that the paper and certificate of discharge should be given into the hands of the labourer; and I would further suggest, for your consideration, that no reindenture should be for a longer period than twelve months, and that before it is passed, the employer should be required to show that he had paid all wages to the labourer who reindentured to him.
9. With reference to the objection you urge to the discretion which has been given by Ordinance 31 of 1867, to the Magistrate, to determine as to the fitness of the habi- tations in which the coolies are lodged, I would observe, that the. 75th section enables you, with the consent of the Executive Council, to make regulations for carrying out the provisions of the Ordinance. It is desirable that regulations on this head should be framed and issued at once; and you will no doubt take care that they are strictly enforced by officers not amenable to any improper influence.
10. From your description of the very insufficient hospital accommodation provided for the coolies, it is clear that some reform is urgently needed.
11. With reference to this subject, my attention has been called to the Report of the Protector of Emigrants for 1870, in which I notice, that out of 208 hospitals, 183 are classed as "good," or "very good," I should wish to be furnished with an expla nation on this point, and also as to the discontinuance of his personal visits of inspection.
12. The medical attendants of estates should be appointed by, and responsible to, Government; and a similar provision to that, which in Jamaica and Trinidad, has made them independent of the proprietors of estates, should be enacted as soon as possible in Mauritius.
18. Labour on Sundays is restricted by law to attendance on the cattle and other work indispensable for the safety of the estate, and is not to extend beyond 8 A.M. This kind of labour must be unavoidable anywhere; but the immigrant appears to be in a worse position in Mauritius than in the West Indies, in that his wages being paid
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