CO885-(20-21) — Page 578

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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to arrest deserters. At present there are no Inspectors stationed outside of King- ston, and very few parishes in which there are Interpreters, so that if a deserter chose to go to a far-off parish, he would practically be at large until he elected to return to his estate, as it would be an expensive business for an employer to send someone to capture him. As instructed, I would suggest that the following section be substituted in place of Section 89 now in force:-

The manager of his estate, or any person authorised by him in writing, or the Protector, or an Inspector, or any constable may, without a warrant, stop any immigrant who at any time (except Sundays or the holidays or festivals mentioned in this Law) is found during the ordinary hours of work at a distance of more than two miles from the estate in respect of which his service may be due, and, if any immigrant so found fails to produce upon being required to do so a certificate of exemption or of industrial residence, or a written ticket of leave signed by his employer, may take him back to the estate in respect of which his services may be due, or, if he refuses to disclose the name of the estate, take him forthwith before an Inspector or a Justice, who shall enquire into the case, and unless he is satisfied that the immigrant has completed such residence or obtained such exemption as afore- said, or that he is absent from the estate in respect of which his services shall be due with the leave of his employer, shall order him to be taken hack to his estate."

Section 95, sub-sections (12), (17), and (21) may, I think, well be repealed, as no action is ever taken under them.

It is the practice to inflict only a small fine for the first offence of a new-comer, except in very exceptional circumstances, and it is very rarely the case that the punishment inflicted is imprisonment without the option of the payment of a fine. On occasions I have found that firm handling at the start has been the very best thing, and I do not think that anyone who knows how to deal with indentured immigrants is ever likely to abuse the power which this section gives to Inspecting Officers. Payment of fines by instalments would entail extra work on the police, but would make things much easier for the immigrants.

Ration Schedule. Some of the immigrants do not care for meat or fish, and instead are supplied with Irish potatoes or pumpkins. The Demerara Ordinances also provide for sugar being supplied, which is not included in our schedule.

Hospitals. If immigrants are not to be prosecuted for leaving the hospitals without being discharged, then either high fences will have to be erected around the premises which the immigrants will be unable to scale, or they will have to be allowed to come and go as they please. Recently in a certain hospital they have been doing the latter (although those who have been caught have been prosecuted), and as they leave at night, and in some instances partake of indigestible food when they should be on special diet, the percentage of sickness for the estates has in consequence been higher than it should be.

Section 5 of Law 3 of 1883. When an immigrant is considered temporarily unable to work, the Medical Officer returns him to the estate with an order to the manager to give him leave and pay him 2s. 6d. per week. When he is recommended to be released from indenture by the Medical Officer he is paid 2s. 6d. per week by the manager, which is refunded by this Department.

Law 4 of 1889. I think trial by the officers of this Department only for offences under the Immigration Laws will be more satisfactory in every way. if all cases are to be tried by officers of this Department, and visits are to be made But more often than once a quarter, besides special visits, do not see how all this extra work will be efficiently performed by the appointment of only one additional Inspector. I think two will be found to be necessary, one in charge (say) of Portland and St. Mary, and the other of the western parishes.

Section 13 of Law 20 of 1891. I do not think that the second term coolies, who are fairly good workers, experience much difficulty in obtaining employment, although in a few instances I know that the coolies have had to pay the weekly amount them- selves. Their training during their five years of indenture is such that employers, as a rule, are only too anxious to obtain their services. But in the report of Lord Sanderson's Committee (see paragraph 307), and now by Messrs. McNeill and Chimman Lal, objection is taken to this tax. Taking the last five collections on account of second term coolies was £1,434.

years, the average

283

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Transfer under Section 22 of Law 22 of 1896. rally consults the Protector before ordering a transfer, and therefore “Protector

A Resident Magistrate gene- might very

well be substituted for "Resident Magistrate," and I think the law should be so worded as to leave it to the Protector's judgment as to whether the man or woman should be transferred. As a general rule no difficulty has been experienced in effecting a transfer, but recently I have had a case in which I tried to effect the transfer of a female immigrant who had seriously wounded another woman, and the two largest employers of indentured immigrants refused to accept her. I had, accordingly to return the woman to the estate from which I was seeking to remove I am certainly strongly of opinion that there should be a section of law which would compel an employer of indentured immigrants to accept any immigrant trans- ferred by the Protector, and to be responsible for the payment of the immigrant so transferred for the unexpired period of his or her indenture, the right of appeal to the Government being allowed.

her.

Sections 2 and 6 (c) of Law 13 of 1905 would, of course, be repealed if the second term coolie tax is abolished. These sections are to insure payment by the employer of the fee for employing second term coolies, and are of great assistance to this Department in collecting amounts, as the police supply a list quarterly of those who report themselves, showing where they have been working. No prosecu- tions under either of these sections have been made for some years.

(7) I do not think that in Jamaica there are sufficient men of the priestly castes who have enough education to be entrusted with the keeping of registers. There are a few, but in a district where there bridegroom would be put to great expense to ensure the services of a marriage not such a one the prospective officer of his own religion. I am of opinion that East Indians have less cause for complaint under the present system than they would have if the proposed amendment were adopted.

I agree that the reference to "personal law" should be eliminated from Law 22 of 1896, as the immigrants have already lost caste by coming to Jamaica, and should be allowed to inter-marry as they please.

(9) Most of the intelligent managers arrange to hear any complaints which indentured immigrants may have to make, but this is not done as regularly as should be. If the plan suggested were adopted there ought to be much less trouble than is sometimes the case, and I have spoken to a good many managers about this

matter.

(10) It would be an excellent thing, not only for the immigrants, but for the employers themselves and the country generally, if large estate owners could be induced to give their coolies free lots of land as suggested. The far-seeing employer who has not the means to cultivate all his land should, I imagine, be easily induced to give out plots of land as indicated, as he would be always able to command reliable labour supply without the expenses and worries of its being indentured, and he would also have his land cleared up free of cost. Some employers even now give pieces of land to their indentured immigrants, but as these allotments are some distance from the barracks the coolies do not make much use of them, as they are afraid that their produce may be stolen unless they have their cultivation under their own eyes.

A few managers allow their coolies to keep cows, but others refuse to do so, as they state that the cattle would destroy their cultivation. They ought, however, to be prepared to do more in this direction than they do at present.

The Government land which is at present being allotted to immigrants is, I have been informed by several of them, exceedingly poor. Many who are entitled to land grants have applied for allotments, but when they have seen the land available they have refused to take it. Lord Sanderson's Committee (vide paragraph 312) were also very emphatic in urging that the East Indians should be encouraged to remain in Jamaica by acquiring suitable land, but I doubt whether anything has been done in this respect since then.

(11) There are at present three East Indian schools in the island, and though the efforts of the teachers have not met with that measure of success that all interested in education would like to see, still, it has to be borne in mind that there are a great many prejudices that have to be overcome. very difficult to persuade the immigrants to send their children to a general school, On account of these prejudices it is especially as most of the parents are quite illiterate, and cannot appreciate what a good education would do for their offspring. Where there is a large population of fairly recent arrivals, I would suggest the starting of more schools for East

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