507
of His Excellency, and was permitted to question four emigrants, and reported:-"Taking these four men as a sample of the whole, I am convinced that the vast majority would, on strict examination, be found to be men utterly unable to pay the passage money themselves, but who, whilst being perfectly free and willing emigrants, have had the passage money advanced to them by Chinese firms, and will have to repay the money with interest within 18 months after arrival in Australia. The very appearance of the men,-shoeless, stockingless-indicated the class of labouring men who live from hand to mouth, and from the experience I have had of these classes in China, I am induced to believe that the idea of these men having paid their passages with their own money is utterly improbable." We have very carefully gone over the printed notes of the evidence of the witnesses examined, and have no hesitation whatever in confirming Dr. Eitel's report in every particular. Captain Thomsett reported on the 28th April that he had examined the 839 Chinese emigrants, and found that they were free and under no contract of service whatever. One man however, one of the four examined by Dr. Eitel, had admitted that he had a written agreement, and his name was removed from the list. On this report, the Governor, holding Captain Thomsett responsible for the examination of the 835 whom Dr. Eitel had not examined, signed the license, and the steamer accordingly left on the following day.
It was no doubt very annoying for the charterers of the Glamis Castle to have the steamer detained in the harbour for days after she was ready to go to sea, and it was equally certain that if the vessel had been permitted to leave without its so-called free emigrants undergoing some sort of an examination, the government of this colony would have laid itself open to severe censure. That the Emigration Officer's examination was a thorough farce, must be patent to every one who knows anything of the manner in which these sham examinations are conducted, and we must hold the Governor responsible for permitting such a state of affairs to exist.
It is absolutely indispensable that the Emigration Officer should be a man thoroughly conversant with the language and general customs of the Chinese, and it is equally necessary that his time should not be taken up with other duties. Capt. Thomsett is not a Chinese scholar, and as Harbour Master he has more work than he can properly attend to--or why should there be a Deputy Harbour Master! The principle of one government official filling two or three different positions, so common in Hongkong, is rotten to the core, and wholly indefensible. The time has surely come when the Augean Stable wants a thorough cleaning out, and we would strongly recommend that a start be made at once in the Emigration Department.
Every mercantile man in Hongkong knows well enough, the system on which these so-called free emigrants are shipped on board steamers bound for the Colonies, and they are equally well acquainted with the share borne in the transactions by the Chinese Agents, or sub-charterers, so we will not waste time and space by detailing matters which are perfectly well understood throughout this colony. Emigration from China to the Colonies should not be encouraged. It is very rarely conducted honestly towards the emigrants themselves, and it has been, is, and will be the cause of serious troubles in nearly every city in Australia. Chinese labor of the description sent down in the Glamis Castle is not required, nor is it desired in the Colonies. Gold diggers, tin miners, and general laborers are not the sort of people likely to add to the permanent stability of the country; and the natural development of the Australian continent will come in its own good time, so far as railways, etc., etc., are concerned, without the aid of Chinese labor. The Colonies are progressing with the times sufficiently fast to meet their own requirements. Although certain powerful companies in Australia would like to see for their own especial benefit a great deal of cheap Chinese labor in the country, the great mass of the people are strongly averse to their towns
507
of His Excellency, and was permitted to question four emigrants, and re- ported:-"Taking these four men as a sample of the whole, I am convinc- ed that the vast majority would, on strict examination, be found to be men utterly unable to pay the pass- age money themselves, but who, whilst being perfectly free and will- ing emigrants, have had the passage money advanced to them by Chinese firms, and will have to repay the money with interest within 18 months after arrival in Australia. The very ap- pearance of the men,-shoeless, stockingless-indicated the class of labouring men who live from hand to mouth, and from the experience I have had of these classes in China, I am induced to believe that the idea of these men having paid their pas- sages with their own money is ut- terly improbable." We have very carefully gone over the printed notes of the evidence of the witnesses examined, and have no hesitation whatever in confirming Dr. Eitel's report in every particular. Captain Thomsett reported on the 28th April that he had examined the 839 Chinese emigrants, and found that they were free and under no contract of service whatever. One man how- ever, one of the four examined by Dr. Eitel, had admitted that he had a written agreement, and his name was removed from the list. On this report, the Governor, holding Captain Thomsett responsible for the examin- ation of the $35 whom Dr. Eitel had not examined, signed the license, and the steamer accordingly left on the following day.
It was no doubt very annoying for the charterers of the Glamis Castle to have the steamer detained in the harbour for days after she was ready to go to sea, and it was equally certain that if the vessel had been permitted to leave without its so- called free emigrants undergoing some sort of an examination, the government of this colony would have laid itself open to severe censure. That the Emigration Officer's exami- nation was a thorough farce, must be patent to every one who knows! anything of the manner in which these sham examinations are con- ducted, and we must hold the Governor responsible for permitting
It is
such a state of affairs to exist. absolutely indispensable that the Emigration Officer should be a man thoroughly conversant with the lang uage and general customs of the Chinese, and it is equally necessary that his time should not be taken up with other duties. Capt. Thomsett is not a Chinese scholar, and as Harbour Master he has more work than he can properly attend to--or why should there be a Deputy Harbour Master! The principle of
one government official filling two ar three different positions, so common in Hongkong, is rotten to the core, and wholly indefensible. The time has surely come when the Augean Stable wants a thorough cleaning out, and we would strongly recom- mend that a start be made at once in the Emigration Department.
Every inercantile man in Hongkong knows well enough, the system on which these so-called free emigrants are shipped on board steamers bound for the Colonies, and they are equally well acquainted with the share borne in the transactions by the Chinese Agents, or sub-charterers, so we will not waste time and space by detailing matters which are perfectly well understood throughout this colony. Emigration from China to the Colo- nies should not be encouraged. It is very rarely conducted honestly towards the emigrants themselves, and it has been, is, and will be the cause of serious troubles in nearly every city in Australia. Chinese labor of the description sent down in the Glamis Castle is not required, nor is it desired in the Colonies. Gold diggers, tin miners, and general laborers are not the sort of people likely to add to the permanent stabil- ity of the country; and the natural developement of the Australian con- tinent will come in its own good time, so far as railways, etc., etc., are con- cerned, without the aid of Chinese labor. The Colonies are progressing with the times sufficiently fast to meet their Own requirements. Although certain powerful companies in Australia would like to see for their own especial benefit a great deal of cheap Chinese labor in the country, the great mass of the people are strongly averse to their towns
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.