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10. As it is evident that no changes could be made in the present recruiting system without further consideration and further reference to the Government of India; I am to suggest that it would be well to proceed as soon as possible with the amalgamation of the Agencies, the appointment of an Agent in the United Pro- vinces, and the restriction of the recruiting areas, leaving the other question for subsequent consideration.

I am, &c.,

4452

SIR,

No. 44.

JOHN ANDERSON.

INDIA OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 13 February, 1912.)

India Office, Whitehall, London, S. W., Wгr reference to your letter of the 1st instant, No. 34886,* relative to the

12th February, 1912. Report of the Committee on Emigration from India, I am directed by the Marquess of Crewe to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that he desires to consult the Government of India on certain points raised therein.

But he fully concurs with Mr. Harcourt's proposal to inform the four Colonies concerned that amalgamation of the Calcutta Agencies is considered to be necessary in the interests of recruiting. His Lordship is satisfied that in view of the changed conditions described in the second paragraph of the Government of India's letter, No. 30, of the 25th May last (a copy of which was transmitted in Mr. Montagu's letter of the 28th October lastf), this step, which is regarded on high authority as one lead- ing to more economical administration and more effective supervision, must be con- sidered to be one of great importance for the continuance of the system of recruitment.

I have, &c.,

R. RITCHIE.

3.

78

I had hoped to hold a session of the Legislative Council in February in order to proceed with this legislation, but the absence from the Colony of certain members of Council, including the Agent-General of Immigration, whose health has necessi- tated a short holiday and change of climate, render necessary a postponement till the beginning of April.

I therefore submit the Bill in order that your final instructions upon it may be received by me before the sitting of Council, and I shall be glad to learn by telegram whether it meets your approval. The Bill has been already published for the infor- mation of those concerned.

4. I have for some time past been considering the question of opening new settlements for Indian immigrants whose indentures have expired, and since the date of my despatch of the 6th July* it has been found possible to open a small one on Crown land near Tavua. There are, however, several difficulties in the way of further developing this systern. The first is the great lack of Crown land and especially of Crown land near the centres where sugar is cultivated. Another is that, owing to this lack, Government is obliged to form settlements on lands handed over to them for leasing by the native owners of these lands, and the Government is bound to get the best rents obtainable. In a recent instance in which such land, very suitable for the formation of a large Indian settlement, was handed over to the Government the native owners stipulated that it should not be leased out to Indians. They probably wished to see the land developed by capitalists. In a great many cases, however, the difficulty in forming settlements on native lands which have been handed over to the Government to control is due to their inaccessibility. This is one of the reasons that I am so anxious to improve the system of communication by roads. A third difficulty is that the Indians themselves are prone to lease from Fijian owners selected plots of particularly well favoured lots, especially if these are situated near sugar mills.

5. The rents charged in Government settlements at present vary, according to soil and accessibility, from 3s. to 7s. 6d. an acre. with the rentals usually demanded by native owners from Indian settlers.

These rentals compare favourably Indian immigrants pay these rates willingly.

The

I have, &c.,

F. H. MAY.

5570

Enclosure in No. 45.

D

(No. 28.)

SIR,

No. 45.

FIJI.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 22 February, 1912.)

[Copy to India Office, 16 April, 1914. L.F.] [Answered by No. 49.]

Government House, Suva, Fiji, 17th January, 1912.

despatchest of the numbers and dates quoted in the margin, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of the proposed Bill§ to amend the Indian Immigration Ordinance, 1891.

A copy

WITH reference to your No. 209 of 21st September, 1911. No, 230 of 18th October, 1911. No. 234 of 27th October, 1911.

The

13

of a memorandumg by the Attorney-General indicating the various points in regard to which amendments of the Ordinance have been decided on is enclosed. objects and reasons for the proposed legislation will be found appended to the Bill.

2. You will observe that the definition of "task" has been altered from the definition contained in the draft Bill forwarded in Sir C. Major's despatch, No. 277, of the 23rd of December, 1910. The alteration has been made on the advice of the Attorney-General in a minute a copy of which is enclosed. The definition of "task will, in my opinion and that of my advisers, equally well effect the object of pre- venting the overtasking of inexperienced immigrants, and I therefore ask your permission to substitute it for the definition contained in the Bill as first submitted.

Nos. 34 and 38; and 34432: not printed.

No. 16.

• No. 43.

† No. 39.

§ Not printed.

BILL TO AMEND THE INDIAN IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, 1891.

OBJECTS AND REASONS.

This Bill is intended to effect several amendments of the law relating to Indian immigrants which experience has shown to be desirable or necessary. dealt with is the definition of task, which is so altered as to make clear what was The first point the intention of the principal Ordinance. The alteration in the definition is intended to make clear a point as to which some doubt appears to have arisen. tioning tasks the experience of a labourer in the class of work to which he is set is In appor- to be taken into account. steadily at a task for six hours will be entitled to his day's pay, even though he may An ordinary able-bodied adult male immigrant working not have accomplished as great a result as with more experience he might have been able to do.

Section 3 amends the law in that it makes it obligatory on an immigrant to reside on the plantation to which he is indentured.

Section 4 deals with the extension of an immigrant's indenture by a magistrate. It gives the magistrate a discretionary power and limits the exercise of it to cases of unlawful absence and desertion and restricts the term of extension to the time lost to the employer by the offence or any consequent imprisonment.

nount of extension which can be ordered against any individual immigrant is The total limited to six months.

The practice of reindenturing has fallen almost into desuetude and it has been considered desirable to abolish it as from the first July next.

Section 6 is intended to protect a labourer from being kept at his task for an unduly long period through no fault of his own.

• No. 31.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

6T

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Reference :-

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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