PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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2PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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thing depends), I believe that their cheap labour will attract capitalists to take advantage of the great natural resources of these colonies. In New South Wales, thirty years ago, there were,, I believe, leas private means of employing labour, than, there are at this moment in the two colonies I have mentioned, yet in New South Wales we know how quickly, the demand for assigned servants, exceeded the supply. I believe the same thing will happen now if the system is judiciously carried into, effect, and that result will be much promoted by the measures now very properly taken by Sir W. Denison, to employ the labour of those convicts who must remain in the hands of the Government in, executing, works calculated to develope the resources of the colony. Wealth will accumulate there very rapidly, and afford yearly increased means of employment, while the numbers, to be employed will not increase at the same rate, since those who obtain conditional pardons, will be attracted by higher wages if they are to be found elsewhere.
But in order that this policy may prove success- ful, it is in my opinion absolutely necessary that Parliament should deal liberally with those colonies to which convicts are sept; the expenses of police, rendered necessary by the presence of convicts, must be paid by the mother-country; and, above all, free emigrants (chiefly females) must be sent to these colonies equal numbers with the convicts. If this course is pursued, am persuaded that New South Wales will again very soon desire to have. convicts sent at least to the northern district, where. there is so enormous an extent of country available. for their employment; and I need hardly add that this is most desirable, since the more the convicts can be dispersed the better. A letter I have lately received from the well-known Mr. Hall, of New South Wales, seems to me in general sq strongly to. support these views (though on many points. I differ from him), that I have thought it worth while to have his letter printed and circulated with this paper. His long experience and thorough know, ledge of the colony render him, an important, witness. on this subject.
January 24, 1850.
G.
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Appendix No. 1.
NORFOLK ISLAND.
1. When the system of Assignment was to be put an end to in Van Diemen's Land, and some different method of discipline to be attempted, it was also resolved that in Norfolk Island Captain Maconochie should be allowed to try the experi- ment of his scheme of convict management.
2 Captain Maconochie's theory, as is well known, was, that the great end should be the Reform of the offender; that for this purpose more use should be made than heretofore of Reward, and less of Punish- ment; and that the duration of the penal state should be measured by Work instead of by Time. These were the leading, although not the only features of his scheme.
3. His experiment began in 1840, and concluded in 1843, having lasted three years. He had during that time had under his control 1200 doubly-con- victed prisoners already on the island before he went there, and 679 "new hands," making some- what less than 2000 in all. The issue of his proceedings was neither so disastrous as had been anticipated by most people in New South Wales, who regarded his views with derision, nor yet so gratifying as had been looked for in his own san- guine expectations. On the men who had pre- viously gone through the severe suffering of Norfolk Island, the effects of Captain Maconochie's practice are said to have been better than on the convicts
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