CO885-(20-21) — Page 575

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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TLC.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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does not seem to be quite satisfactory to immigrants, Medical Officers, or to estate managers. As in Trinidad and Demerara, immigrants working on estates after the expiry of their indentures should be treated like indentured immigrants in estate hospitals.

The rules for the treatment of poor patients apply both to settled immigrants and to creoles, but in so far as they affect immigrants, we think that they might be made more liberal. On estates, as a whole, each inimigrant is sick for about three weeks altogether in the year, the total being the aggregate of several periods of illness. Indentured immigrants are usually in the prime of life and living under favourable sanitary conditions. Later on they will be more liable to contract illness, and may easily be incapacitated for twice or three times as many days as (say) an estate manager. If, in addition to the loss of earnings during sickness, they are required to pay even a two-shilling fee for each treatment at a dispensary, and full mileage cost in addition for home treatment, the cost of sickness in payments and in reduced earnings is a serious matter. Immigrants have complained to us of the cost of medical treatment, and of the difficulty of getting certificates. In Demerara, where the population is less scattered, we recommend the opening of dispensaries under compounders for the free treatment of people whose incomes were under 150 dollars annually, on the ground that the sickness of day labourers, as well as of tenants and occupants of small holdings who occasionally work for wages, was a loss to the Colony. In Jamaica conditions are more varied, and the Medical Officers receive very small salaries. We do not feel that our acquaintance with the facts is full enough to justify any recommendations more definite than that at least dis- pensary treatment should be given free and without the production of a certificate to patients whose income was not known to the Medical Officer to exceed a definite sumi. In the case of East Indian immigrants the well-to-do are very few in number, and would be known to doctors with even brief local experience. The necessity of getting a certificate before treatment is a hardship, especially where the doctor knows the locality and the people. We would suggest that a few dispensary districts with an East Indian population be selected and enquiries made with a view to ascer- taining if immigrants' attendances indicate that sickness is, in fact, being treated. We are aware that in some districts the number of certificates does not accurately represent the number of poor people treated either without payment or at reduced fees by the Medical Officers, but it may furnish in all cases a valuable commentary on the general suitability of the existing rules.

4. In view of the fact that the personnel of the local Immigration Department is on the point of being changed, we think it desirable to suggest that it be recog- nised formally as part of an inspecting officer's duties to go occasionally into the field where coolies are working, and also at intervals to check tasks not only by wages, but by a regular time test where practicable.

5. Though it may not be immediately necessary to provide specially in the Ordinance for the maintenance of crêches for children, we think that the Immi- gration Department should cause estates to erect floored sheds, where very small children beyond the nursing stage could be tended by some elderly and reliable woman immigrant while their parents are at work, suitable food being provided.

6. The following proposals follow in the main the order of the provisions in the Ordinance, reference to provisions which the Protector has noted for amend- ment being omitted (e.g., definition of "immigrant" and "desertion").

A non-adult" excludes a child born in the Colony. This affects rights to rations, &c. All children of indentured parents should be treated alike.

The Protector should have full power of transfer and inter-transfer without the managers' consent. He is responsible for indentured immigrants as a body. Managers might have a right of appeal to Government.

An indentured immigrant should be entitled to commute his service at any time on payment of a commutation fee proportionate to the unexpired portion of his service. This will obviate hardship and remove existing grounds for criticism of

the system.

Sections 41 to 43 are inoperative, and should be deleted.

Section 48 is exacting. It should be modified as in Section 114 of the Trinidad Ordinance. Out of nine hours total presence at work an immigrant should be entitled to claim up to one hour for eating and resting, though Trinidad allows now only half an hour. It affects time labour and not task work. The proposed altera- tion will not, in fact, reduce output of work. It would involve amendment of

involve Section 49.

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There is no specific provision for non-able-bodied immigrants. Section 116 of Trinidad and Section 97 of Demerara Ordinances might be consulted.

Section 50. It would be well to provide that a task should be such as an average immigrant can complete in a working day of seven hours without extraordinary

exertion.

Section 54. Will this empower Government to give out purchased lands for occupancy on special terms suitable to immigrants?

Sections 58 and 59 serve no useful purpose, and the latter might be troublesome. The provision relating to the medical care of immigrants will be affected by our proposals. Apart from any modifications made in the system, we suggest that Medical Officers be empowered to prescribe "diet" and not merely "rations" (which has a technical meaning) to any indentured immigrant on an estate. charged from hospital may be unable to resume full work at once, and may require Men dis- special food for a time.

In

In Demerara, a type design for dwellings is prescribed with good results. some of the Jamaica buildings the ventilation is defective. The floor space might be 50 square feet per adult, and 20 square feet per non-adult and infant.' In Section 70 the clearance round buildings might be 50 square feet. We recommend the adoption of the British Guiana rule regarding a morning ration for new immigrants.

While indentured the mother of an infant" should, during its "infancy,” receive one shilling in cash per week.

Desertions should be reported to the Immigration Department. Report to the police should not be compulsory.

Section 89 is objectionable. The persons authorised to stop an immigrant should be-

(a) the manager of his estate or any person authorised by him in writing; (b) the Protector, an Inspector, or any person whom either of these authorises

in writing.

Immigrants so stopped should be taken to the estate, or to an Immigration Office or depôt. Removal to a police station should be permitted only when the destination cannot be reached before night, and the journey should continue next day. employer should be left to initiate proceedings.

The

Section 95 (12) and (17) and (21) should be omitted. The whole section might be re-cast. Abetment of any offence might be provided for separately. Offences might be divided into major and minor offences. For the more serious offences the maximum punishment might be ten shillings fine for a first offence. For the less serious offences the maximum penalty might be five shillings on a first conviction. In all cases imprisonment should only be awarded in case of default. Payments of fines by instalments, if not less than one shilling weekly, should be allowed if asked for. No offence not punishable under the ordinary law should render the accused liable to imprisonment as a substantive punishment.

Section 100. The words "fine or" should precede imprisonment to bring the law into accord with practice.

The ration schedule provides for an allowance of fish or goat's flesh. A sub-、 stitute for this should be allowed. We have already suggested the issue of a morning ration as an addition in the case of new immigrants.

An indentured immigrant should not be prosecuted for leaving a hospitak Egress should be prevented.

In Section 5 of 1883 amendment no provision is made for rations to invalids and non-able-bodied.

As regards Law 4 of 1889, we recommend a return to the original law. Officers of the Immigration Department will be in a better position to decide, and their punishments will not fix a stigma on the person punished. At present, Inspectors visit estates only once in three months. The interval is excessive. Apparently, an additional Inspector would be required to ensure more frequent visits and prompt disposal of all complaints. In other Colonies Magistrates try all cases, and we have recommended that, except in the case of desertion, an Inspector's sanction be required as a preliminary to the filing of a complaint. We expressed our preference for trial by Inspectors.

Section 13 of Law 20 of 1891 is objectionable. It is very difficult to enforce equally and fairly, and in times of slack demand for labour will operate harshly.

Section 22 of Law 22 1896. We think the Protector should have the power to

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