The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-15 00:00:00

_RORNING EDITION.

AUSTRALIAN EMIGRATION.
T a numerous and highly respectable
the MEETING of persons interested in the"prosperity of
GREAT COLONY of NEW SOUTH WALES, held
at the George and Vulture Tavern, in the City of London, on
Monday, the sth day of Aped; 1841, convened for the purpose
Ito considering the " CONDITIONS" recently promulgated
3,2hlColonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, touch-
.g
the future conduct of Bounty Emigration, and to decide on
ose measures necessary in order to obtain their annulment,
and thereby avert the alarming injury they are calculated to
produce
as re',pects the future supply of labour to New Soritt,
ales
,qt
it -./..ES BARRY BALDWIN, Esq.,Chair,
wag•moved by STUART DONALDSON, Esq., seconded by
Cnaneas LEE, Esq., and
e, Resolved unanimously,
hat the latest accounts from New South WaleS represent
0 demand for labour in that colony to be more pressing Sand
v rgent than at any former period ; wages had risen enormously,
and wore expected to be still higher; the flock owners weee
tunable to obtain shepherds at all approximating to the -„umber
absolutely necessary for their proper care ; gree,',, apex-ellen-
41on s were entertained that much of the fort; ,coming harvest,
4,w_hielli promised to be very abundant, would perish in the fields
onr_,vant of a sufficient supply of '..f.tlntlr In reap and store it ;
qa all the great interests of the colony were very seriously
7otenegered frorr, the alarreeng deficiency of labour. A Corn-
ift_tt of the Legislative Council,of which the Bishop of Austra-
lia was Cha• rman, in their Report to the Council in September
an'ascit
no
, 'that "Every department of industry is cramped;
.no undertaking, public or private, tarilorrosoluted
.pt at an immerse expense, osying to the 'exorbitant rate of
ass and the inconceivable difficulty in pro Curing workmen,
'ants, or mechanics, upon any terms whatweer ; there is no
mart of the colony in which it may not be trilled that there
s an
n
, actual dearth of hands to carry on the' * ary business.
the instance of sheep farming, the distress arising from want
° shepherds is almost incredible. Thus a very fatal check is
tut upon the adverts:is:4 prosperity of the Colony."
" was moved by tnomas IcELEY, Esq., of New South Wales,
seconded by AtEXANDER SMITH, Esq., of Liverpool, and
Resolved 'unanimously,
That in the. opinion of this meeting it is in the highest de-
\• teve
_tv .Important that the supply of labour from these kingdoms
s oath Wales should be encouraged and promoted by all
•It'leraectlea'ie means, and that every possible facility and encourage-
'eimsistent with the existing law of the land, should be
,ofut,ri ed to all persons engaged in supplying it. In a Report
Committee of the Legislative Council of New South
they state "that to permit immigration to be suspended
Or dleeked in its extent, would be to seal the death-warrant
foolonial prosperity, and to expose to certain ruin the nu-
3otecous flourishing and extending interests which have been
ated in the Colony," ;and it may also be truly affirmed that any
okeek in the supply of labour to New South Wales is also cal-
14lated, by reflection, to be highly injurious to the best inte-
rests of the Mother Country."
e It was moved by EDWAR DIVETT, 'E, RP., seconded
Joitre GILCHRIST, Esq. D,
of Gla;;gow, a N
nd
Resolved unanimously,
gi.,:trt this Meeting
.consiilers the Bounty system of Erni-
Ols nhich was originated arid established in the Coly,
Py io7e Colonial authoritim, under the administration ofon Sir
, taia4•ll. Bourke, to have been a most valuable means of ob-
vas,lllß the necessary supply of Labour, and to have conferred
2 pi. benefit on the Colony. lt is estimated that upwards of
lb' A:10 persons emigrated to New South Wales last year under
.e operation of the Bounty system, and in the present year,
(.',841) there is reason to believe that a vastly inereased supply
',ill be furnished under this invaluable system, if left, as here-
tofore,_ to the energy of those engaged in sending it out,
unshackled by the imposition of unnecessary and obstructive
oconditiolis in their estimate of the great value of the
e_u
e tiippss
nty system, this Meeting has the entire concurrence of Sir
George
who, in a despatch to the Secretary of State
Int r the Colonies, presented to, and printed by order of Parlia-
ent, says f, tlie Bounty system, however,Emigrati has been found so
"r superior to that of *Government on, both as
to the description of persons supplied by it, and the cost
61- their passage, that it appears to me very. doubtful
_Whether any other should be persevered in ;" and in another
despatch the Governor, speaking of the Report which had then
t.ceaitly been presented by the Committee on Emigraon
himself:i
the Qolony to the Legislative Council, thus expresses
in no way able to dispute the correctness of the con-
, '!lnsiriins of the Committee, in respect to the superiority of the
ROunty system over that which is carried on by the immediate
'agency of Government. The Bounty system is found to be 41.
liter head, or about 21 per cent. cheaper than the Government
'system, reckoning men, women, and children all alike, and
making no difference,: for the quality of the emigrants ; but if
this difference be taken into consideration, and especially the
!mailer proporti on of children introduced by the Bounty sys-
tem, the advantage of that system must he estimated consi-
derably higb'er, and I am inclined to think with the Ccmmit-
bees that '2OO Government emigrants cost as much as 30Q
e? uW.I, 'ones of equal value to the Colony." This, it should be
''''tetietly borne in mind, is the voluntary testimony of the Go-
or of the Colony, in his official communications to the
e,°lstretary _of, State. As respects that most important consie
veration—the comparative state of health on board Govern-
rien_ent and Bounty ships conveying passengers to New South
wales, it was stated in evidence before the Committee of the
Legislative Council at Sydney in 1839, that the relative loss of
life en the voyage was as follows, viz. :
Government Bounty
Ships. Ships.
Of the aggregate number on board lin 16 ... lin 34
Ditto of Adults ... lin 45 . lin 99
Ditto • of Children
In ale Report of the Committee of 1840, on Immigration,
Preseeited to the Legislative Council, of which the Bishop of
Australia was the Chairman, the Committee state—" In pri-
I:tte ships,under the Bounty system, there were embarked 884
Adults, viz., 423 Males and 461 Females, and 170 Children—
oighty male and ninety female. The register of deaths among
• 'them has not been preserved, as will be found stated in the
evidence. As, however, no ships of this class have been placed
In quarantine during the past season, it is reasonable to believe,
and it is, indeed, a matter of general notoriety, that the immi-
grants by Bounty ships have arrived invariably in a state of good
• oealth,:and that the casualties at sea have been exceedingly few."
It was moved by JAMES Jolter CUMBIIN9, Esq., seconded by
NEIL CAMPBELL, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
That thus proved beyond 01 question, as the superiority of
the Bounty system has been, as a medirm for supplying labour to
the Colony, it is a duty of the most urgent obligation on the
Partof the Government of this country, to encourage and pro-
'.4_,__ote that system by affording every possible facility and free-
' vvm from all unnecessary interference with those engaged in
lP•rriYing„it on, consistent with the provisions of the existingw
ofyth land, and the stringent regulations in force in
New Loth Wales, as respects all persons introduced into the
• Colony under the Bounty system.
It was moved by WILLIAM BROWN, Esq., seconded by
ROBERT BROOKS, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
That this Meeting has learnt with great alarm, that, acting
Maier the represen'ations ;rude to him by the Colonial Land
*ad Emigration Commissioners, the Secretary of State for the
Colonies has permitted them to interfere seriously, and most
injuriously, with those engaged in conducting Bounty emigre-
. ttion in virtue of authority from the Colonial Government, and
'under strictly-defined conditions and regulations on the part of
that Government; that the Commissioners have actually
issued certain " conditions" of a most oppressive, and, as this
Meeting entirely believes, wholly uncalled for nature; which
4` conditions" are a direct infraction of the contracts entered
into by the Colonial Government with persons resident in the
Colony, the effect of which, if persevered in, will, this Meeting
has reason to believe, be the immediate and large diminution
of the supply of labour under the Bounty system, and its even-
tual and early abandonment by those engaged in it.
Moved by JOHN LAMBERT, Esq., seconded by .HENRY
FLOWER, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
That these consequences, so pregnant with cause for alarm,
and so greatly to be deprecated, will have a powerful tendency
to diminish, if not almost entirely to stop, the sale of land in
the Colony ; the source,whence the means of furnishing the
'requisite supply of labour is derived, inasmuch as in the event
of the flock owners being compelled to diminish their flocks,
from the impossibility of obtaining shepherds and labourers,
they cannot require any increase of pasture, nor will fresh
capital be invested by others in the production of the grea•
'staple of the Colony : thus the means of defraying the cost of
7T,onveying out emigrants will be seriously endangered.
-nroved by .WILLIAM WALKER, Esq., seconded by GEORGE
. . HAY DoxaausoN, Esq., and
-Resolved unanimously,
That this Meeting is. desirous that all practicable security
and comfort should be afforded to all persons emigrating under
the Colonial Bounties ; and is of opinion that the all-sufficient
provisions of the Passengers Act, and the stringent regulations,
rigidly enforced as they are, by the Colonial Government, as
respects the introduction of labour under its authority (with-
out full and literal compliance with which the parties intro-
ducing it cannot obtain payment of the bounties), afford ample
protection and security to all persons proceeding to New
*onth Wales at the Colonial cost ; and this Meeting is fully
on, rue out in this view by the results of recorded investigations
In the Colony by Commie tees of the Legislative Council, acting
under the appointment of the Governor.
Moved by J. GORE, Esq., seconded by H. BUCKLE, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
That the following Gentlemen (of whom five shall be a quo-
'tum), viz., Stuart Donaldson, Esq., Thomas Iceley, Esq., Ed-
Ward Divett, Esq., M.P., John S. Brownrigg, Esq. M.P.'
Charles Barry Baldwin, Esq., M.P., Thomas Walker, Esq.,
'William Brown, Esq., Francis Mowatt, Esq., William Walker,
Esq., Robert Brooks, Esq., Arthur Willis, Esq., James John
Cummins, Esq., Henry Buckle, Esq., George Fife A ngas,'Esq. ,
'Sohn L. A nderdon, Esq., John Gilchrist, Esq. (of Glasgow),
Alex. Smith, Esq. (of Liverpool), Robert How, Esq., and
John Gore, Esq., be, and are hereby appointed, a Committee,
to take such measures, by communicating with the Secretary
of State for the,Colonies, die Members ;of the Legislature, and
otherwise, as to them shall seem to be expedient, in order to
avert the serious evils which this meeting apprehends will in-
evitably be produced, as respects Bounty emigration, if the
Proposed interference of the Land and Emigration Commis-
sioners shall be permitted by the Secretary of State.
'loved by ARTHUR WILLI 3, Esq., seconded by CHARLES
GORE, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
That should the Committee,contrary to the earnest hope and
expectation of this Meeting, fail in inducing 'the Secretary of
State to order the annulment of the " conditions," dated
`-'.sth March, 1841, promulgated by the Land and Emigration
Commissioners, a Petition be, without delay, prepared, signed,
a,,nd presented to the House of Commons, praying that
nonourable House to appoint a Committee to investigate
the statements made to the Colonial Department by the Land
and Emigration Commissioners, respecting Bounty emigration,
and which were presented to the House of Commons on the
26th of February last, and printed by its order, and generally
t° inquire into and report thereon, and on the best means
forfurnishing the requisite supply of labour to New South
Wales ; and that until such Committee shall be appointed,
their report presented, and the measures consequent thereupon
shall have been definitively decided upon, Lord John Russell be
respectfully, and very earnestly solicited to direct that the
recent " conditions" promulgated ley the Land and Emigra-
tion Commissioners, touching Bounty emigration, be entirely
suspended.
'oved by EDWARD DIVETT, Esq., and seconded by ARTHUR
Wier's, Esq., and

Resolved unanimously,
That the warmest thanks of this Meeting, as well as of all
Persons feeling an interest in the great Colony of New
rjluth Wales, and in the Nell-being and comfort of the
labouring. population of the mother country, are justly clue to
JOHN NIARSHALL, Esq., for the eminent services he has
rendered in sending out a large and steady supply of efficient
labour, under the Bounty system.
'loved by DAVID FORBES, Esq., seconded by HENRY
GOLWIN, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
t. That the Committee be authorised to publish these Resolu.
ens in the Times, Morning Herald, Morning Chronicle,
Standard, The Sun, and Globe, and in such other publications
-8
they
übli may deem proper, with the view of giving the most
txterlde d
city to them.
oved by JoUN MARSHALL, Esq., seconded by WILLIAM
Baows, Esq., and
Carried by acclamation,
13 +hat the best thanks of this Meeting are due to Charles
a:l7 Baldwin, Esq., M. P. , far his kindness in taking the Chair
auClis Occasion and for the manner in which he has pre-
% ove rits prOceedings.
CHARLES BARRY BALDWIN, Chairman.