221
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PIC.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
Surgeons not asked for opinion on general aspect of anky- lostomes and so did not offer one. Were asked only about a definite procedure Surgeons' views on three main points :-compulsion, lack of
time to apply the treatment, and lack of proof of its efficiency confirmed by the minutes of Acting Surgeon- General (Dr. Law) and of the Immigration Agent- General (Mr. Duff)...
(a) As to compulsion...
(b) As to lack of time
(c) As to efficiency, statistics prove this
Dr. Law does not approve of Fonceca method Reply to Dr. Law's views re School of Tropical Medicine... Surgeons had hoped that their practical and personal know- ledge of conditions on coolie ships would have given their opinion some weight
21579
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Better to land the people in good condition and fit to there receive the treatment rather than in a vain effort to apply it on board
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Practical knowledge of surgeon's work cannot be got by
merely perusing the official rules Contrast of condition on estates and on coolie ship Greater risk of accident in ship
Surgeons hope the Governor will see that the surgeons gave full consideration to this matter, and that duty com- pelled them to so report
24148
SIR,
No. 131.
Paragraphs 15 and 16
COLONIAL OFFICE to GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION AGENT AT CALCUTTA FOR TRINIDAD, &c.
Downing Street, 22 July, 1913.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 801, of the 26th of June,* relative to the accommodation available at Fyzabad, and to inform you that as it appears from the sixth paragraph of your letter, and from the enclosure thereto, that it should always be possible, should a house for the Emigration Agent be built at Fyzabad, to dispose of it without serious loss, Mr. Harcourt is prepared to approve of an expenditure of not more than £1,000 being undertaken for the purpose of providing such a house, though it is clear that no steps can be taken in the matter until it has been definitely decided whether the new up-country depôt is or is not to be at Fyzabad.
I am, &c.,
27270
SIR,
No. 132.
HENRY LAMBERT, for the Under-Secretary of State.
INDIA OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received 7 August, 1913.)
India Office, Whitehall, London, S.W., 6 August, 1913.
In reply to Mr. Lambert's letter of the 30th June, No. 20174,† I am directed by the Marquess of Crewe to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that he is requesting Mr. McNeill and Mr. Chimman Lal to furnish a report on the lines suggested.
• No. 129.
I have, &c.,
T. W. HOLDERNESS.
† No. 128.
No. 133. TRINIDAD.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. [Answered by Nos. 151 and 155.]
(Confidential.)
SIR,
Downing Street, 8 August, 1913. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Confidential despatch of the 6th of June last,* reporting the result of the conferences between yourself and the two representatives of the Indian Government who have enquired into the conditions of East Indian labour in Trinidad, and enclosing certain recommendations upon which the representatives and yourself have agreed.
2. It is evident that Mr. McNeil and Mr. Chimmanlal have carried out their investigations with the greatest care, and I note with satisfaction that their suggestions were fully discussed with them before their final departure from the Colony.
3. It will, of course, be necessary to ascertain the views of the Emigration Agents in India before any decision can be taken upon such of the recommendations as affect the recruiting arrangements in India; and I am causing a copy of your despatch to be forwarded to Mr. Marsden for an expression of his views and of those of the Emigration Agent for British Guiana, but there are certain points to which I propose to refer without awaiting their reply. I deal with these in the order in which they are mentioned in the notes of the conferences with the delegates. 4. It is clearly desirable that the physique of intending emigrants should be carefully scrutinised before they are allowed to leave India, and it is unsatisfactory that physically defective persons, such as those referred to in the delegates' sugges- tions, should have been permitted to proceed to the Colony.
5. I feel some doubt in regard to the proposed modification of the policy of rejecting all "return" emigrants. The past correspondence on the subject of Indian emigration contains frequent allusions to the trouble which has resulted from the re-engagement in India of emigrants who have returned thither from the Colonies. In his last annual report (enclosure in Mr. Knaggs's despatch, No. 434, of the 8th of November, 1912),t the Protector of Immigrants wrote: "I consider it would be for the benefit of the Colony that no returns nor any sort of Brahmins were recruited;" and in the preceding paragraph he referred to this class of immigrant as undoubtedly the cause of so much discontent and crime among the immigrants on the estates." I should be glad to learn whether you are fully satisfied of the advis- ability of the proposed change.
(2
6. The suggestion that time-expired men should be sent from Trinidad to India to act as recruiters commends itself to me; but it will be necessary to ascertain the views of the Emigration Agents and of the Indian Government before effect can be given to this recommendation.
7. I have recently had under my consideration the question of the treatment on board ship of emigrants suffering from ankylostome infection, and have obtained further reports upon the subject from the Surgeons-Superintendent, by whom the matter was considered at their annual meeting. The question is by no means free from difficulty, and further reference to India and consultation with medical autho- rities will probably be necessary before I am able to arrive at any decision.
8. With regard to the suggested extension of the period of indentured service for women from three to five years, I have to refer you to your despatch, No. 61, of the 10th of February, 1912. The report of Lord Sanderson's Committee contained no suggestion for increasing the percentage of women emigrants, though I observe that it was stated in the evidence given before the Committee that the small percent- age of women amongst the emigrants did at times result in trouble. On the other hand, I understand that the Emigration Agents often experience difficulty in obtain- ing the percentage of women which is at present required.
9. I note that a draft Ordinance embodying the proposed amendments of Ordinance No. 161 will be submitted for my consideration in due course.
10. A copy of this correspondence is being forwarded to the India Office as well as to the Emigration Agent at Calcutta.
• No. 127.
† 37432: not printed.
7028 not printed.