CO129-105 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [5-7] — Page 251

248

that it appeared impossible that the

applied to

Chinese passenger Act was them; His Excellency avill however be

Au a

better position than myself to

Know whether the Act is

such vessels or not

apyrlied

li

3. The next paragraph of your letter refers to augervision, which I consider defective, and which opinion

case,

Dhar

I illustrate by a particular for certain emigration, ports and ships

preferred, is owing to the restrictions of the Chinese Passenger Act

not British are

i

respect

le

opace, provisions and other

protections during the voyage. But the

substance of my

•crumunication to the

Puigration Board, is the view that for

the

engagement of emigrants

under

contract of labor, strict surveillance

should be maintained before the

Ov

is in

any

MMÄLUM

emigrant embarks bound to unbark. It is this previous

not

percision, the supervision in the matter of collecting and engaging, in the precautions for health and comfort during the voyage, that I consider defective. I have scarcely said that "malpradices" have resulted, but whend

it is borne in mind that in the woof

Kiduajiing days in China, a supervisira somewhat similar to that required by

the Chinese Passenger Act, was maintained

and how ineffectual it proved,

other

to be necessary;

supervision would appear to be n