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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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but 11. 79., and it was argued that the cost of the passage was so very slight that it was within the means of any Indian to secure it. But now the average cost of a passage was about 37. 15s.; and he simply mentioned that fact to show what a change had taken place, and that the arguments of twenty years ago would not hold good to-day. And those papers which had been published on the whole subject, what did they show? why, simply that the Home Government most hesitatingly accepted the policy advocated by my predecessors, and that it was only adopted at the most urgent request of the Colony, and he trusted it implied no disrespect to Sir James Higginson if he said he preferred to his judgment that of Sir George Anderson's upon the subject. And now having glanced at the reasons of the past he would turn to those reasons which had arisen in support of the demand for the revival of return passages. First and foremost he should be inclined to place the great and growing difficulty which attends recruiting. That point would be touched upon at greater length by the Pro- tector of Immigrants, and he did not wish to anticipate any thing that that gentleman had to say, but he would read to the Board one or two extracts on the subject. (Here bis Excellency quoted from letters of the Calcutta and Madras Agents.) For himself he believed that this went a great deal against the Colony, coupled with the fact that the Emmigration Agents, often engaged in the recruiting for more than one Colony, did not, always represent the true state of affairs to immigrants, and if the Resolution were carried he thought it would the better ensure for the Colony a good supply of emigrants, and would give the means of effecting what was so greatly wanting sani- tary reform. He might be met with the objection that at the present moment it was injudicious to propose much a change. He entirely dissented from that. It was founded upon a misapprehension. This he would admit, it was not the time to fix the details of such a change in the legislation and so anticipate the decision of the Royal Commissioners. But though it was not the time to fix the details of the change, the change was imperative in the face of the fact that our agents found a daily growing and increasing difficulty in procuring immigrants, and when they said the granting of this back passage would to a great extent remove the difficulty, that was a point on which the Protector of Immigrants had addressed him shortly after his arrival, asserting that it was one which could hardly be postponed. And if the Resolution was carried he did not propose immediate legislation upon the subject, because he was sure the passing of the Resolution would strengthen the hands of the agents sufficiently to enable them to carry on their operations. And there was another consideration why the matter should at once be deliberated upon and voted for. It appeared to be forgotten that this was a subject on which the Home Government had expressed a decided opinion, and that opinion could not but have strong weight with the Royal Commissioners, and would have still greater weight with them if, as he hoped, it would meet with their approval. But if the proposal was distasteful to the Board, if they objected to it, it was all the more incumbent upon them at once to say so, and he was quite sure that their decision would be most respectfully received and 'most carefully weighed by Her Majesty's Ministers. He could not conclude without saying that, if they rejected it they would incur a grave responsibility. The Protector of Immigrants assured them, or would assure them, that the passage of the Resolution was a necessity for the continuance of the supply of labourers. Could an appeal based upon such grounds and supported by such an authority be resisted? If they did so they would inflict a heavy blow upon those who were struggling to supply their wants and who had already to struggle against many difficulties, and to their own great injury the blow would tell. He could not believe that the gentlemen constituting that Board would readily commit such an error. He had not wished to weary the Board, and had therefore made his observations as brief as possible, but he might have a few words to say when he came to reply to the observations which might be made by honourable gentlemen. He had to move, "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."

The Honourable the Protector of Immigrants.-The opinions I have already expressed in regard to the motion now before us have doubtless shown that I intend to support it. I shall not do so confining myself to a silent vote, but, with your Excellency's per- mission, shall briefly explain the reasons on which I rest my opinion as to the propriety of passing the proposed Resolution. I trust, Sir, that the examination of the main question involved in it has undergone has sufficed to induce those of my honourable friends who at first felt diffident as to the advisability of the proposed measure to give its adoption their cordial assent to-day.

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The whole question virtually resolves itself into this: Should we persist in a course adopted twenty years ago because it was then recognised to be necessary and likely to lead to beneficial results; or should we only persevere in it if it is suitable to the present circumstances of the Colony? The question thus put hardly admits of any controversy. It is beyond any doubt that we should only persist in that course if it suits the present condition of the Colony: it is beyond any doubt that, however wise, however consistent. it may have been nearly a quarter of a century ago to remove from immigrants the. privilege of returning to their country at the expense of Government, it may be neither wise nor consistent to do so in the present altered condition of this island. Let us, then, see whether the standground from which the withdrawal of that privilege. from immigranta has to be looked at is the same now as it was twenty years ago.

Whereas the production of the island had not then attained its highest degree of development, it has now certainly reached, if it has not passed beyond, its culminating, point. Whereas the population of the island thon was only 188,000 souls, it is now 317,000. Yet, notwithstanding these important changes in the condition of the Colony, labour. is still in demand, and immigration continues to be indispensably necessary. To see what conclusions should be drawn from the fact that fresh intro- ductions of labour are still necessary, let us inquire what the expectations were which led Government in the past to assent to the abolition of free return passages, and how far those expectations have been realized. It is quite plain from all the papers which we have had before us that the main object was the formation of a large resident population, which it was hoped would supply the agriculture of the island with all, or nearly all, the labour it would need. Well, how far has that object been socom- plished? We have, indeed, succeeded in forming a large, a very large, resident population; but has it supplied our agriculture with all or nearly all the labour it has needed? Unquestionably not.

We have checked the exodus of the immigrants we have introduced till we have. formed a population denser far than the densest population of Europe denser than the population of every province of India but one; we have incurred all the risks, inconveniences, and disadvantages of a population incommensurate with our limited territory and resources, and yet we have not derived from the policy which has led na so to increase our population, the benefit for which solely the policy was adopted.

But, Sir, there is more still in this question of population which deserves our serious consideration: there is the rate at which the population has been progressing. Whereas there were 100,000 male immigrants in the Colony at the date of the last Census, hardly more than 60,000 were labouring on the sugar estates; and whereas there were no less than 30,000 male Indian Creoles at that time, not more than 3,000 were reported to be engaged as agricultural labourers. It was scarcely more than 85,000 in 1881; it rose to 188,000 in 1851; and in 1871 to no less than 817,000, almost doubling itself every twenty years. I simply ask whether it is wise to allow it to grow apace at such a rate ? I ask whether there is any member of this Board, bold enough, sanguine enough, as to the future resources of this Colony, to face a popu- lation increasing at the same rate within the next twenty years? Is it wise to. disregard the danger which goes on increasing as our population inors—the danger. in regard to public health? Need we wait for more epidemics to be reminded of that danger? Are we not sure to have to pay the penalty of our want of wisdom and foresight?

It may here be argued that the cause of the evil we are suffering from is less an excess of population than an insufficient application of the teachings of sanitary science. I am inclined to believe that we are suffering from both of these causes together. Whether it be so or not, what is certain in that the application of the rules of the art of sanitation becomes more difficult and more burdensome at least in the same ratio as the population to which they have to apply goes on increasing; in fact, that the carrying out of sanitary measures is easier and less costly in a thinly populated country than in a country comparatively densely populated. And what to me is unquestionable too is that, whatever may be thought of underground drainage and superficial drainage, the drainage that we should secure by the adoption of the proposed Resolution would be highly beneficial to this Colony. It would rid the Colony of the redundant part of its population, of those who long to go back to their country and cannot, of those who look upon themselves as perpetually banished and severed from their homes, who are dissatisfied with their lot, and being so, do not contribute a willing, cheerful, useful share of labour to the agricultural and industrial operations of the Colony.

It might here be argued that Government is already armed with power sufficient to send all such persons back to India, and that no extension of those power is needed,