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In the course of the year ending 1st July, 1845, 3,872 of those in the probation gangs, at the date of this return, will probably become entitled to probation passes.

These several classes of probation pass-holders, ticket-of-leave men, and persons conditionally pardoned, are all pressing one upon ano- ther for employment, and all entering into a competition which is griev- ously complained of, though without sufficient cause, with the free labourers. Some prompt and effectual relief must be afforded, or uni- versal ruin will be the result.

A portion of this excess of labour is capable of remedy by the adop- tion of a plan, which indeed was originally contemplated, of giving to a "conditional pardon" validity, not only within Van Diemen's Land, but within the whole range of the Australian colonies. This was dis- tinctly announced as the intention of the Government in my despatch of 25th November, 1842. The Comptroller-General says, that "had the Governor been able to carry out the measure contemplated by Her Majesty's Government, of allowing persons holding conditional pardons to proceed to the neighbouring colonies, an outlet would have been opened, with the good effect of at once increasing the demand in the labour market, and thereby reducing, in some degree, the number of pass-holders in the service of the Government, and causing a corres- ponding diminution in expense."

I know not what has been the obstacle, but after communication with Sir James Graham the instructions have been renewed; and it may be hoped that holders of conditional pardons will thus move impercep- tibly, but constantly, to the various colonies of Australia, in the south and west of which particularly there is already an increasing demand for labour. But this will be in itself a very inadequate remedy. At pre- sent a certain number of the ticket-of-leave men, who are under little Government restraint, are enabled to find employment, though many of them are reported to be in a very bad condition; but in the present superabundance of labour and of deficiency of capital, it is almost impos- sible to find any employment for the pass-holders. The settlers dislike employing persons under constant surveillance of the Government; they will not take the trouble, or submit to the inconvenience, of withholding portions of their wages on Government account; and being enabled to dictate their own terms, they throw the pass-holders back upon the employment of the Government. It is a heavy discouragement to the pass-holder to find himself thus checked, and deprived of his expected advantage, at the first stage of his advance; and the expense of Govern- ment is very great. At the date of the last despatch there were em- ployed by Government 686 ticket-of-leave men and pass-holders at an annual expense to the colonial treasury of 17,6467.

With the view of driving these people to seek for private employ-

ment, it was ordered that they should only be employed on the roads, but not for hire, or in jobbing parties hired out for the performance, under the direction of the Comptroller of Convicts, of agricultural labour for private individuals, but it has been found impossible to adhere to these instructions. When employed by the colony, or on colonial works, a charge is made against the colonial revenue, which is expected to be paid over to convict funds; but owing to the inadequacy of the revenue, all colonial works not absolutely necessary are sus- pended; and were it otherwise, there would be almost equal objections to employing this class upon them, without pay; or, with pay, in com- petition with the higher classes of convicts and the free-labourers.

It is clear, then, that when there is so great a superabundance of labour, and when it is the policy of the country indefinitely to increase the supply of that labour, there must be found the means of a corre- sponding increase in the capital to employ it. This may be the capital of the Government or of the colony, or of both. Independently of the provision to which I have before adverted, for facilitating the efflux of holders of conditional pardons, various plans have been suggested.

The Governor presses earnestly for a repeal of the duty on the admission of Van Diemen's Land wheat into this country, as tending to encourage tillage, and consequently increase the demand for labour. But independently of the fact that the possible reduction of 4s. a quarter would not have so extensive an effect as he hopes for, the difficulties of carrying such a measure in this country, and the objections to proposing it are such, that I have felt it my duty to negative any expectation of relief from this source.

I think the colony has a better claim to be relieved from a portion of the heavy burden of police and gaols. The augmentation since 1834*, under these heads has been no less than from 12,000l. to 36,7371.; while all the other expenses of the colony combined amount only to 70,0001.

Sir Eardly Wilmot has recently, under the pressure of difficulties, authorized, at a considerable expense, a survey of part of the country, with a view of ascertaining whether the formation of extensive reser- voirs might not be undertaken, which would have the effect of remedy- ing one of the great evils of the country, the summer droughts. by a general and systematic plan of irrigation. He has obtained plans and estimates, exhibiting very favourable results, and at no very alarining outlay. He contemplates this work, and others of a similar character, being executed by the labour of convicts who may be unable

to obtain private employment; but there are many items in his estimate

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It is stated then to have been only £12,000, and that amount seems to have been made the basis of an agreement with that country.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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