PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PLEC.O.885
21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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2. I invite reference to my despatch, No. 69, of the 25th March last, in which I strongly recommended that the treatment of ankylostomiasis should be carried out on board ship. I entirely agree with Mr. McNeill on this subject.
3. The weekly weighment would be advantageous. It could easily be carried out outside the wages pay place on Saturday afternoons. The question of providing cheap medical treatment to immigrants after the expiry of the indentured period needs investigation.
4. A very good proposal. I certainly think that officers of the Immigration Department should go into the field and see the people at work. I am surprised to find this is not the practice.
5. Making prosecution for desertion compulsory seems to me a mistake, and the matter will be enquired into. The previous sanction of the local Immigration Agent to the prosecution of immigrants also seems to me desirable, but the endow- ment of the Immigration Agent with power to inflict punishment seems to me better. 6. I do not think anything should be done that might adversely affect the recruitment of women.
7. The question of the provision of crêches for children will be investigated.
8. I agree, and think the words should be omitted.
9.
Yes.
(b) Will be considered.
10.
Will be considered. I am not quite sure.
11. I fancy this provision is pressed for by the Medical Department Will be
considered.
(b) Will be considered. I fear that it will be objected to by the planters, although at first sight compulsory work for five days a week only seems sufficient.
12. Reasonable; should be adopted.
13.
The proposal seems to me quite reasonable.
14. No objection, but it is necessary to be able to punish this offence.
14. (b) Will be considered.
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(c) This section was amended by Ordinance 25 of 1911, but the new section is the same as the old, except for the word" reasonable " between
" of " and " cause in the second line, and the words " if the immigrant is arrested in the night " between "or" and "to" in the eighth line. I know this is considered very important by the sugar planters.
(d) I do not know why this section was passed. Will be considered.
(e) and (f) I agree.
(g) I agree.
(h) Will be considered.
15. I cordially agree. I was astonished to find how little recognition and consideration is given to East Indian marriage customs. There should be a regular marriage ordinance, such as that now in force in the Straits Settlements, as regards the marriage of Mohammedan and Hindoo inhabitants. There is no reason for making the Mohammedan and Hindoo marriage law personal to the East Indian. It should be made applicable to all persons professing those faiths. Any such full recognition is very likely to be opposed by the ministers of the various Christian
sects.
16. Yes.
(b) I would not go so far. It must be remembered that for the first year the immigrant, while becoming acclimatised and gaining experience in the particular kind of work he is required to perform, is far less efficient, and, therefore, a reduction on account of the first year should be considerably less than one-fifth of the total amount of commutation money.
(c) Will be considered.
17. I agree.
18.
Yes.
19. I think this might be arranged.
20. I agree.
21. I hope that some good settlement scheme may be put into force within the next few years if we are successful in obtaining the competent irrigation engineer asked for in my despatch, No. 88, of the 4th April last. It must be remembered, how-
ever, that the most satisfactory settlements must be situated near centres where labour is required, both for the general benefit of the Colony and for the immigrant himself, for there are very few who do not require the assistance of earned wages in addition to what they gain by cultivating their small plots of land.
22.
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The scheme of Agricultural Loan Banks is now under consideration. Unfortunately, the literature on the subject that was expected has not yet been received. I should be very glad if the information regarding the Bombay Loan Banks could be obtained from the India Office and forwarded.
23. I quite agree, and have already expressed in public the opinion that vernacular schools for the East Indians are desirable for the very young children before they are admitted into the ordinary schools of the Colony.
27th August, 1913.
Enclosure 4 in No. 141.
W. EGERTON.
The GOVERNMENT SECRETARY to the SECRETARY, PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. (Confidential:)
Government Secretary's Office,
SIR,
Georgetown, Demerara, 21st January, 1913. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the proposed insertion in coolie immigrants' contracts of information as to their penal liabilities, I am directed by the Governor to ask that His Excellency may be favoured with the views of the Planters' Association with respect to the repeal or modification of the penal clauses of the immigration law, and especially the provision of imprisonment.
2. I am to add that a further Confidential despatch in this connection has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies by the last mail, and is open to perusal by you or any members of your Association who may like to see it.
I have, &c.,
SIR,
Enclosure 5 in No. 141.
J. HAMPDEN King.
The SECRETARY, Planters' ASSOCIATION, to the GOVERNMENT SECRETARY.
Georgetown, Demerara, 15th February, 1913.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the recipt of your Confidential letter of the 21st ultimo, asking for the views of the Association with respect to the repeal or modification of the penal clauses of the immigration law, and especially that of the provision of imprisonment.
The matter has had the careful consideration of our Association, and I am directed to say in reply that any repeal or modification of the present law with regard to the penalties to which the immigrants are liable is viewed with considerable alarm.
The penalties that are in force are considered absolutely necessary in the interests of the immigrants themselves, as well as those of the employers. They ensure the people being made to work regularly, and any abolition or modification, it is con- sidered, would tend to encourage the feeling among the labourers that they need only do as much work as they considered necessary or sufficient to provide for their immediate wants. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to point out that this feeling is already engrained in the black labourer of the Colony, and it is felt that the indentured coolie would not be long in following the example if there was no check on him. There are quite enough malingerers in the Colony already, and the withdrawal of the existing penalties, it is thought, would only add to their number. In certain cases no other penalty except that of imprisonment would have the slightest deterrent effect.
In every phase of business life where contracts exist they carry with them penalties for non-fulfilment thereof, and the Association sees no reason why those between the East Indian immigrants and the employers here should not be conducted on the same lines.
I am also to say that the Association will resist in every way possible any attempt being made to free these immigrants from their liabilities under the existing law.
I have, &c.,
J. C. MCCOWAN,
38891
Secretary.
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