CO885-(20-21) — Page 444

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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and Rs. 12.8 per child between the ages of two to twelve years in all districts east and south-east of Cawnpur; for all other districts the rates were Rs. 30, Rs. 40, and Rs. 15, respectively, this higher rate being given to compensate the recruiting agent (or "sub-agent") for the additional rail-fares payable on the longer journey. In March last, owing to the great scarcity of coolies, and especially of women, the Agencies' rates were raised to Rs. 35, Rs. 45, and Rs. 17.8 for men, women and children, respectively, in the districts south and east of Cawnpur, and to Rs. 40, Rs. 50, and Rs. 20, respectively, in the others. In addition, a special bonus of Rs. 10 over and above these rates was offered to sub-agents for every female emigrant they are able to supply in execess of the proportion required by the Indian Emigration Act, viz., four women with every ten men.

At the date of writing the last quoted figures are still being paid by the Trinidad, &c., agency: but, with the consent of the Indian Immigration Trust Board of Natal, I have recently raised the commission paid by the agency of that Colony to Rs. 50 per man and Rs. 70 per woman in order to compete, in some measure at least, with the high sums now being paid to recruiters for Assam and elsewhere.

3. The above rates represent the gross sum paid to sub-agents for emigrants delivered at the agencies at Calcutta who are passed as fit by the emigration agents and their medical advisers, and who actually embark for the Colonies. The sub- agent is responsible for all expenses incurred in the recruitment and maintenance of intending emigrants in their districts, for their rail-fare to Calcutta and, in fact, for all charges prior to the recruits' arrival at the agencies here. From the sums quoted, therefore, deductions must be made on account of the commission paid by the sub-agent to the recruiters who actually bring the coolies to his sub-depôt, for his sub-depôt rent, for cost of feeding the coolies pending their registration and despatch to Calcutta, for their rail-fare to Calcutta, and also the return rail-fare of the peons (conductors) who escort each batch of emigrants throughout the journey, boat hire from the railway station to the depôts in Garden Reach, and sundry miscellaneous expenses. In addition, the sub-agent has also to bear the cost of repatriating and compensating any coolies who are rejected as unfit for emigration after their arrival at Calcutta; and such rejections are numerous.

4. You will see that it is impossible to say, even generally, what is the exact amount of profit that a sub-agent makes per head on his recruits. It is certainly not very large. Taking Cawnpur as an average district it may be estimated very roughly that he makes a profit of about £1 on each man and woman he supplies, provided they are accepted in Calcutta; but from this £1 must be deducted something on account of rent, &c. Moreover, the rejection of a single adult means the loss, not only of all commission on that adult, but also of the double railway fare and all other expenses incurred, which loss and expenses are, of course, doubled if the rejected coolie is accompanied by a wife or husband.

5. As regards the commission paid by sub-agents to their recruiters, the amounts, I believe, vary considerably in the different districts. I am informed that at Allahabad à recruiter is paid Rs. 9 for each man and Rs. 18-20 for each woman. At Cawnpur the rates are said to be Rs. 6 for a man and Rs. 18-20 for a woman. It is difficult to obtain accurate information on this point, and the rates themselves necessarily vary according to the severity of the competition of rival recruiters and the amount of local labour procurable; but I think these figures may be taken as a fair average of the remuneration paid at present to Colonial recruiters throughout the districts.

6. Obviously the commission paid by the emigration agents to their sub-agents and by the sub-agents to their recruiters must vary in accordance with the supply of coolies procurable: and I may mention that at the present time we are obtaining coolies only with the utmost difficulty, in spite of the high rates offered.

I have, &c.,

R. P. GIBBES, Government Emigration Agent

for British Guiana and Natal.

6413

SIR,

25

No. 18.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.

WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 13th of January

Downing Street, 2 March, 1911. last, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit to you, to be laid before the Earl of Crewe, the accompanying copy of a letterf which has been received from the Government Emigration Agent for British Guiana and Natal, furnishing infor- mation in regard to the amount of the commission paid to recruiting agents for the recruitment of coolies in India.

.2.

It is thought that the information supplied will be of assistance in connec tion with the question which is to be asked in the House of Commons by Mr. King, M.P., on Monday next, the 6th instant.

I have, &c.,

32300/10

SIR,

No. 19.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.

C. P. LUCAS.

WITH reference to recent correspondence arising out of the Report of the

Downing Street, 4 March, 1911. Committee on East Indian emigration, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for India, a copy of a despatch which was addressed by Lord Crewe to the Governor of Mauritius in November last with regard to the cessation of the introduction of Indian indentured labour into that Colony.

I am to state that the question of the readjustment between Trinidad, Fiji, and Jamaica of expenditure on account of the Agency in Calcutta is still under con- sideration. It is intended to fix the 1st of April, 1911, as the date from which Mauritius will cease to contribute to the cost of the Agency, but definite instructions have not been issued, pending a settlement in regard to readjustment of expenses.

I am, &c.,

4080

SIR,

No. 20.

COLONIAL OFFICE to INDIA OFFICE.

C. P. LUCAS.

WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 22nd of February,

Downing Street, 8 March, 1911. 1910,§ I am directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for India, a copy of the report of the Immigration Agent- General of British Guiana for the year 1909-1910.

2. With reference to the observations on page 19 of the report respecting introduction of anchylostome-infected immigrants from India, I am to state that treatment for anchylostomiasis on coolie ships has been advocated by the Government of British Guiana for some years past. The Surgeons-Superintendent (to whom the matter has already been referred, and to whose notice it will again be brought) are unanimously of opinion that such treatment on board ship would be impracticable. It is possible, however, that the Indian Government may be able to offer suggestions as to measures to be taken in India.

I am, &c.,

G. V. FIDDES.

• No. 15.

† No 17.

No. 3.

§ 41776/09: not printed.

Not reprinted.