CO882-(2-3) — Page 69

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

LÄLLLE

Reference

C.O.

882

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

へ

16

arrangement, I estimated the amount of contribution for the current year (1872) at 2201, without, however, including, as appeared to have been previously done, any charge for the clothing of the men.

10. With respect to the question now asked by your Lordship, I would submit the opinion that although the financial condition of this Colony is not such as to justify any but the most absolutely necessary expenditure, and is not in any degree such as to justify this Government iu undertaking, without sufficient reason, to bear expenses now which hitherto it has called upon others to bear; yet, looking to the merits of the question, apart from the necessities of the Government, the Coal Company seem entitled to solicit a modification of the present arrangement.

11. The Company are at present called upon annually to defray half the expenses of the police force stationed at Coal Point. But the propriety of this obligation is, I think, fairly open to question,

12. If there were no population in that district there would be no occasion for the Police force there.

If population is attracted to the village and district of Coal Point by other objects than the mines, the Government would have to maintain a force there independently of any other consideration.

If population is attracted by the mines, the Colony is the gainer by the number of people there, which represents the number of consumers, by the employment, which is there found them, and by the circulation of the Company's money amongst them.

13. In return for this advantage the Colony may with justice be expected to provide the proper means for maintaining order in the district.

14. So far, then, as the general purposes of police in the district are concerned, I scarcely think the Company ought to be called upon to contribute towards the expense, and the payment by it of a fixed rent to the Crown, assuming this to be duly and regularly paid, is an additional argument in favour of its exemption from such contribution.

15. Where the services of the police are required for special purposes at the mines, the Company ought to bear all the expenses attendant upon the performance of those services.

16. For instance, I understand a policeman is always posted on duty at the mines. This duty engrosses the services of at least three men, counting the reliefs which are

necessary.

The full pay of these three men-equal to 751. per annum-ought to be defrayed by the Company on whose behalf their full services are engaged.

As these men are available to the Government in cases of emergency elsewhere, the Government may be expected to bear the expenses of their uniform.

17. At certain periods, too, the Company require the temporary service of a police sentry over the house or room where their money is lodged at pay time.

This special service, however temporary it may be, ought also to be paid for, and the charge cannot well be assigned according to the actual number of hours the service engrosses, because the performance of occasional services such as this, imposing demands upon the strength of the force, the force must be kept up to a certain number in order

to meet such occasions.

A contribution of half the amount of one man's pay, or 12/. 10s., is the lowest rate of remuneration that should be claimed on account of this service.

18. Thus the total amount of contribution by the Coal Company towards police expenses would be reduced, under this arrangement, from 2201, or 2301. to 871. 10s. per

annum.

19. The principle upon which they would in future contribute, would differ from that upon which they now contribute, in that, whereas they now defray half the expenses of the police employed in general service at Coal Point, they would hereafter pay only for the service of those specially employed in their interests.

20. With respect to the amount paid by the Company for the hire of convict labour in loading coals, I perceive that this is generally stated to be at the rate of 25 cents per

ton.

21. But this represents the highest rate charged, and not the usual rates at which coaling operations are performed for the Company.

22. These rates are as follows:-

1st. For discharging coals from lighters and storing in sheds, 20 cents per ton, Here is a double process: first, discharging the coals from the lighter, and secondly, storing and piling them in the Company's sheds. Yet no more than 20 cents are charged per ton for this double process.

19

2nd. For loading ships at jetty, 15 cents per ton.

This is a single process. 3rd. For loading lighters with coal from sheds, and then loading ships from lighters, 25 cents per ton. Here is a double process, and one attended with considerable labour, exposure, and inconvenience.

These rates include superintendence by the staff of the Public Works Department. 23. I cannot understand on what grounds the Company find fault with these terms, The usual pay for free coolie labour, discharging or loading vessels, is 80 cents per day, which is exclusive of superintendence, while the process of coaling has inconveniences from which the process of discharging or loading ordinary cargo is free.

24. Not only are the rates for convict hire lower than those for which the Company would obtain free labour, but, as Governor Hennessy very justly points out, the value of convict labour in this work lies in the regularity and rapidity with which it is performed, and I may add, in the certainty with which the Company can depend upon the labour.

If the Company depended solely upon free labour in loading coal, their agents here might often waste an entire day in obtaining a sufficient number of coolies.

If they depended upon their own coolies at the mines these would have to be conveyed 8 miles from Coal Point to Victoria Harbour, and during the time of coaling their ordinary work at the mines would be suspended.

25. On the whole, the terms must be pronounced as most favourable to the Company; nor am I able to advise your Lordship that they can be reduced with proper regard to the interests of this Government, in view of the increased expenditure it incurs in maintaining a convict establishment.

26. I may hear mention that when coal is supplied to any of Her Majesty's ships, besides the purchase price, an allowance of 50 cents is given for every ton of coals put on board.

The Company who pay 15 or 25 cents, as the case may be, to the Public Works Department for every ton so put on board, thus retain a surplus of 25 or 35 cents per ton, which helps to meet their annual expenditure for lighterage. In other words, the convict labour employed in loading Her Majesty's ships entails no expense upon the Company.

•

27. The rate at which convict labour is supplied to the Company for other works than coaling has I perceive been established at 25 cents per diem. I cannot say that this is a high charge; but still the daily work done by a convict may be much or may be little, and it will I think be an arrangement more satisfactory both to the Company and to the Public Works Department if, in future, all work of a general description should be done by contract.

28. The permanent employment by the Company of convict labour at the mines would require separate consideration both as to the terms and as to many other important points, but as there is not likely to be any demand for it at present I need now enter upon the subject.

I have, &c.

(Signed) HENRY BULWER.

P.S. With reference to paragraph 17. I have ascertained, since this despatch was written, that the Company's manager, having dispensed with the services of a private watchman at the Company's offices, has of late applied for, and received in place thereof, the guard of a police sentry at night.

This duty engages the services of two policemen nightly, a relief being necessary during the night.

If the Company desires that this duty should continue to be performed by the Police, the service will become one of a permanent character, and being a special service should be paid for by the Company.

July 20, 1872

No. 21.

Governor Bulwer to the Earl of Kimberley,~(Received September 24.)

H. B.

(No. 61.) My Lord,

Government House, Labuan, July 13, 1872. I REGRET to have to inform your Lordship that a check-the first of any importance which has occurred since my arrival in the Colony has been lately experienced in the progress of the present works of the Coal Company at the mines of Tanjong Kubong.

per

be

per

the

the

be

be

her

SI TË MI U STE FRA 1:18 UT

ips,

put

118

॥दद

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

HLREICO.882

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO