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reverse, could be done by expressing acquiescence in the need of modification of the law respecting payment of wages, reindentures, and medical care, although the precise nature of the changes might be left to the Commission to recommend; and that I was anxious to explain the principles on which powers so exceptional as those sought to be conferred on the Executive were defended and justified, although I had no intention of hastily pressing their adoption. I was seconded by the Protector of Immigrants, and supported in a speech of considerable power by the Procureur-General.
17. It is with much satisfaction that I report that three resolutions, of which I have the honour to enclose copies, verbally different from those proposed by me, but essentially the same in principle, setting forth respectively the expediency of shortening the time for payment of wages, of revising the reindenture system, and reforming the present system of medical care (which is pronounced to be defective), were unani- mously adopted by the Board. The first resolution proposed by me, having referemos to the restoration of return passages, was postponed for a short time until the connected with the subject should have been fully considered by the members of sao Council, but it will, I know, be carried by a large majority, if not unanimously. The two last resolutions I thought it expedient, in conformity with the intimation I had given, to withdraw for the present, after stating strongly the reasons for their adoption hereafter.
papers
18. I hope the line which I have pursued on this occssion will be so fortunate as not to incur your Lordship's disapproval.
I have, &o. (Signed)
Inclosure in No. 19.
Proposed Resolutions.
ARTHUR GORDON,
Resolved,―That in the opinion of this Board it is expedient:-
1. That after a date to be hereafter fixed, all future immigrants from India be entitled to claim a return passage to India free of expense, after the expiration of their industrial residence, and after an additional residence in the Colony of such number of years as may be fixed by the Board.
2. That the non-fulfilment of the provisions contained in contracts of service for the regular payment of wages to immigrants on estates at fixed periods, should entitle such immigrants to claim the cancellation of such contracts at an earlier period than at present by law allowed,
3. That authority be granted to the Governor in Executive Council to extend such periods by Proclamation, when under pressure of circumstances affecting the whole Colony a rigid application of the preceding resolution might become inequitable.
4. That no immigrant actually engaged under written contract of service be per- mitted to enter into a fresh contract of service until after the expiration, by efflux of time, of that under which he has been previously engaged; or if such previous contract be not expired by efflux of time, until twenty-four hours after the cancellation of such contract, and the delivery into the hands of such immigrant of his certificate of discharge.
5. That the medical attendanta on estates be officers appointed by the Governor, and receive such remuneration as the Governor, with the advice and consent of this Board, may determine.
6. That power should be granted to the Protector of Immigrants to suspend the transmission to India of requisitions for new immigrants from estates the proprietora of which have been convicted of habitual ill-usage of the immigrants thereon, or on which the mortality among auch immigrants has throughout the twelve months immediately preceding been excessive, provided that such excessive mortality be not due to socí. dental causes, or to the prevalence of any general epidemic.
7. That the Governor be empowered, under conditions to be hereafter defined, to remove any immigrant from estates which are unhealthy, ar on which it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Governor, on the report of the Protector of Immigrants and the Stipendiary Magistrate of the district, or of the Protector and any Court of Petty Sessions assembled by order of the Governor, that the labourers under contract of service have been ill-used.
His Excellency the Governor proposed to the Board the following resolution :--- That the non-fulfilment of the provisions contained in contracts of service for the
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regular payment of wages to immigrants on estates at fixed periods should entitle such immigrants to claim the cancellation of such contract at an earlier period than ·SÍ present by law allowed.
The Honourable C. Antelme moved as an amendment that the following words be substituted :----
That the delay of four months, which at present absolutely entitles an immigrant to the cancellation of his contract for non-payment of wages, may be reduced.
The amendment was unanimously adopted
His Excellency the Governor proposed to the Board the following resolution:-- That no immigrant actually engaged under written contract of service be permitted to enter into a fresh contract of service until after the expiration, by efflux of time, of that under which he has been previously engaged; or, if such previous contract be not expired by efflux of time, until twenty-four hours after the cancellation of such contract, and the delivery into the hands of such immigrat of his certificate of discharge.
The Honourable O. Antelme moved as an amendment that the following words bo substituted
That the law as to the re-engagements of immigrants should be carefully re-com sidered, so as to prevent the possibility of any interference with the free will and choice of the immigrants as to owok re-engagements.
The amendment was unanimously adopted.
His Excellay the Governor proposed to the Board the following resolution :-4 That the medical attendants on estados be officers appointed by the Governor, and receive suck remuneration as the Governor, with the advice and consent of this Board, may determine.
The Honourable C. Antelme moved as anamendment that the following words be substituted:
That although its defects have not come prominently into notice, owing to the general care bestowed by employers on the labourers employed by them, the law relative to the medical attendance on estates is defective, and should be amended.
The amendment was unanimously adopted.
No. 20.
Governor the Hon. Sir A. H. Gordon, K.C.M.G., to the Earl of Kimbwiey. -{Roosived May 8.) (No. 128. Miscellaneous.) My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to inclose a letter addressed to your Lordship by the
Mauritius, April 4, 1872. President of the Chamber of Agriculture, and which I have reason to believe gives oover to a long resolution, of which a copy has also been transmitted to me by the Chamber. This resolution requests your Lordship not to sanotion the adoption of any alterations in the Labour Laws of the Colony, or the proposal to the Council of Government of any resolutions founded on your Larthship's despatch, No. 216 of December ultimo, until after the conclusion of the inquiries of the impending Royal Commission.
3. The unanimous adoption by the Council of Government (in which, as I need not remind your Lordship, the unofficial element largely predominates) of the revolus tions reported in my despatch No. 197 is, I think, a suficient answer to the somewhat diffuse resolution of the Chamber, and relleves me from the inek of examining it in detail.
8. I may, however, observe that the hypothetical assumption that I have proposed "innovations beyond and against " your Lordship's instructions, le na unfounded as 36 is gratuitous; the resolutions, even as originally proposed by mill, having in every instance proposed a less considerable modification of the existing law than appears to be contemplated in the corresponding passages of your Lordship's despatch.
4. The assumption, also, in the Arab paragraph that I have "déclined to satisfy your Lordship to the degree of authority to be attached to M. de Flevite's pamphlet," is equally unfounded. I have not only never declined to do that which I have never been saired to do, but, as si mabier of fact, I did so long ago as the 17th November last, in my despatch No. 197, convey to your Lordship my opinion of the pampliles in question. What I presume the Chamber to intend to refer to is the request made to me by it to "refute the assertions" contained in that pamphlet. With