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"An importation of labour, whether convict or free, into New South Wales, would bring down the price of labour there, would create a more wholesome state of things as regards the relation of master and servant, would induce a flow of capital into the country, promote in every way its prosperity.

"As regards this colony the effect would be to check the emigration from hence; for as soon as the price of labour was reduced in New South Wales, the temptation held out to persons to leave this colony would cease.

"I would submit, therefore, to your Lordship, that it would be desirable to forward all the convicts, under whatever name they may be transported, whether pass-holders or ticket- of-leave men, at once to New South Wales, and to continue this until the rate of labour in that colony is reduced nearly to that which prevails here.

"We have at present sufficient labour to answer our purposes; and the natural advan- tages of climate, and the artificial advantages of better means of communication which we possess, will be sufficient to enable us to participate in all the benefits which would by this measure be conferred upon the sister colony.

"What I wish most particularly to impress upon your Lordship is, the necessity of looking upon these colonies as one great whole with reference to this subject."

These extracts are by no means offered as presenting a complete view of all the Governor's opinions on the labour question, as this probably could only be afforded by the whole of his correspondence, but they have been selected as the principal passages which appeared to bear directly upon the subject.

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EMIGRATION.

THE emigration from the United Kingdom is directed almost exclusively to three quarters, viz.:

1. The United States,

2. British North America

3. Australia.

The emigration during the years 1848 and 1849,

was as follows:

1848.

1849*.

To the United States

188,233

194,749

British North America

31.064

47,940

Australia

23,904

31,977

All other places

4,887

6,386

248,089

281,052*

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

I, Is T. Te k li

Reference—

C.O.

885

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Considered as a relief to surplus population the emigration to the United States and British North America can alone be looked to. Independently of the expense of emigration to Australia, which, in- cluding outfit, can scarcely be less than from 161. to 181. per adult, the Australian colonies would, for the present, be unable to find the means of employing

a larger number of immigrants than are now sent there. The whole number of emigrants who have been dispatched to New South Wales and South

• The Emigration Returns for 1849 are not quite complete, the returus from those ports at which there are no emigration officers not having been yet received from the Customs. The addition, however, will probably be very small.

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