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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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س سلسائل.

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are entitled to a free return passage to India after 10 years spent in the Colony, yet, although 23,195 immigrants (including children) were introduced in ten years, 1901 to 1910, and 4,821 persons, including children, born in Fiji were repatriated in that period, an average of 482 per annum, of this total the actual number of immigrants who obtained free passage, or who paid for their passages, was 3,706 persons only, and, of these latter, the savings and valuables declared on embarkation averaged in value from £30 to £40 per adult. These figures can be verified from the Annual Report of the Protector of Emigrants, Calcutta.

The unindentured population on 2nd April, 1911, was 25,976 persons, of whom the census returns showed that 70 per cent. of the adults were owners or lessees of land, or occupied as agriculturists other than plantation labourers. Those following commercial, industrial, or domestic pursuits, 30 per cent. of the total Indian population.

They held, it is estimated, some 50,000 acres, of which 23,000 acres were in actual cultivation. They also owned 15,000 head of cattle, in addition to 4,300 horses, goats, and pigs. There is ample employment to be obtained anywhere, and to assume that their condition is that of a servile or downtrodden class is preposterous. The Annual Report on Immigration for 1911 gives more information in detail as to the condition of the unindentured population.

Mr. Gokhale's facts, I believe, are, in some respects, incorrect, and in others greatly over-stated. The condition of immigrants in Fiji is, in many respects, vastly better than that of the great bulk of the small agricultural class in India to which they belonged, who are in many localities, owing to climatic conditions and over- population, ever on the verge of extreme penury and want. Starvation, plague, and mendicancy are not known in this country, and there is plenty of good land, a healthy climate, and ample work under fair conditions for all workers in this Colony.

A. R. COATES,

Agent-General of Immigration.

27th August, 1912.

28307

SIR,

No. 73.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNORS. [Answered by No. 178.]

(Jamaica. No. 275.) (British Guiana. No. 248.)

*

(Trinidad. No. 332.) (Fiji. No. 270.)

Downing Street, 1st October, 1912. [To Fiji only:-3 October, 1912.]

WITH reference to my despatch, No. (231) (194) (256) (226), of the 10th August, I have the honour to transmit, for your information, a copy of a lettert from the India Office, with regard to the proposed alteration of the form of contract for East Indian labourers recruited under indenture for the Colonies, and the con- templated visit to British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Fiji of an officer of the Indian Civil Service and a non-official Indian gentleman.

I have, &c.,

L. HARCOURT.

121

2. I would beg leave, in reply, to transmit, for your information, a copy of a further minute on the subject from the Protector of Immigrants, and to specially draw your attention to the disadvantage at which Jamaica is placed in this matter, without, as it appears to me, reasonable justification, and to suggest, for your con- sideration, that, under the circumstances of there being one agent at Calcutta for more Colonies than one, it might be possible that in any one year the expenses per head of all coolies recruited by him should be pooled, and an average cost be arrived at for each Colony. This would appear to me to be a more equitable arrangement than that at present in force, and I should be glad if you should find it possible to direct its adoption in future.

I have, &c.,

SYDNEY OLIVIER,

Governor.

Enclosure in No. 74.

The PROTECTOR OF IMMIGRANTS to the COLONIAL SECRETARY.

HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

SOME little time ago I received a letter from the Emigration Agent at Calcutta informing me that the immigrants introduced into this Colony in the early part of the year cost an extra £3 per Statute adult.

It would appear that the cost of recruiting immigrants for the Colonies was as

follows:-

Trinidad Fiji Jamaica

£ s. d. 500 per Statute adult. 5 10 0 6 10 0

11

"

The immigrants for Jamaica were recruited at the end of the season, after the other Colonies had been supplied, and, as usual, we had to pay more for them.

I think it would be well to ask for some explanation as to the reasons why immi- grants for this Colony are always recruited last. This means extra cost and incon- venience, caused by the late arrival of the immigrants.

It appears that recruiting is becoming increasingly difficult in India, and this being so, we will always fare worst if our indents are supplied after those from the other Colonies.

23 August, 1912.

30820

No. 75.

FIJI.

CHAS. W. DOORLY,

Protector of Immigrants.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR.

31727

(No. 345.) SIR,

No. 74. JAMAICA.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 8 October, 1912.)

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 219, dated 31st July last, transmitting copy of correspondence which had taken place with Mr. Marsden, the Emigration Agent at Calcutta, on the subject of the higher recruiting fees paid in respect of East Indian labourers recruited for this Colony.

King's House, Jamaica, 20 September, 1912.

• No. 60.

† No. 66.

20881: not printed.

(No. 283.)

SIR,

Downing Street, 16 October, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 244, of the 3rd September,* relative to the proposal of the Government of India that the attention of intending emigrants from India to the Colonies should in future be specially drawn to the penal liabilities attaching to their contracts.

¡

I have to refer, in reply, to my despatches, No. 226, of the 10th August, and No. 270, of the 3rd instant,t on the subject.

I have, &c.,

L. HARCOURT.

• No. 72.

† Nos. 60 and 73.

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