CO129-194 - Governor Hennessy Administrator Tonnochy - 1881 [8-9] — Page 161

I pointed out to him that I had endeavoured to impress upon him that I could not allow the laws and regulations in force in this Colony to be in any way relaxed for the encouragement or promotion of Chinese Emigration to Australia, he admitted that he had not examined any of the proposed Emigrants until I had drawn his attention to the intention that this was not to be done until the licence was signed.

I told him that before I signed the licence, the Acting Colonial Secretary with the assistance of two other Officers would endeavour to ascertain whether the emigrants really faced a Contract of Service whatever.

In future I must trouble the "Commission" Officer to complete this examination himself before the licence is submitted for my signature: I drew his attention to the first paragraph of my minute on his letter of the 27 December 1880, in which I expressed the opinion that the examination of Chinese Emigrants at the Harbour Master's Office was not as searching as it should be.

(Signed) Frederick Stewart

Acting Colonial Secretary

26th April 1881.

True Copy

Lett Nu...

Harbor Master, &c.

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