The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-17 00:00:00

T a numerous and highly respectable
:MEETING of persons interested in the prosperity of
the GREAT COLONY of NEW SOUTH WALES, held
aitt, the George and Vulture Tavern, in the City of London, on
i'lmday, the sth day of April, 1841, convened for the purpose
In considering' the •4 CONDITIONS" recently promulgated
by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, touch-
iis the future conduct of Bounty Emigration, and to decide on
the measures ne essary in order to obtain their annulment,
.nos thereby avert the alarming injury they are calculated to
reduce as respects the future supply of labour to New South
ales,
CHARLES BARRY BALDWIN, Esq., M.P., in the Chair,
lt
was moved by STUART DONA LDSON, Esq., seconded by
CHARLES LEE, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
That the latest accounts from New South Wales represent
the demand for labour in that colony to be more pressing and
IHriat than at any former period ; wages had risen enormously,
and were expected to be still higher; the flock owners were
unable to obtain shepherds at all approximating to the number
anso!utely necessary for their proper care; great apprehen-
sions were entertained that much of the forthcoming harvest,
Ifthich promised to be very abundant, ould perish in the fields
and all the great interests of the col6ny were very seriously
endanger, d from the alarming deficiency of labour. A Corn-
!nittee of the Legislative Couneil,of which the Bishop of Austra-
l: was Chairman, in their Report to the Council in September
t' 'tale, that "Every department of industry is cramped;
and no undertaking, public or private, can be prosecuted ex-
_cept at an immet.se expense, owing to the exorbitant rite of
ffes, and the inconceivable difficulty in procuring workmen,
servants, or mechanics, upon any terms whatever; there is no
part of the colony in which it may not he truly said that there
1; Sri actual dearth of hands to carry on the ordinary business.
In the instance of sheep farming, the distress arising from want
of shepherds is almost incredibl,.. Thus a very fatal check is
ita upon the advancing prosperity of the Colony."
t was moved by THOMAS 10ELEY, Esq., of New South Wales,
seconded by ALEXANDER SMITH, Esq., of Liverpool, and
Resolved unanimously,
That in the opinion of this meeting it is in the highest de-
gree important that the supply of labour from these kingdoms New South Wales should be encouraged and promoted by all
Practicable means, and that every possible facility and encourage-
kent, consistent with the existing law of the land, should be
trurded to all persons engaged in supplying it. In a Report
af the Committee of the Legislative Council of New South
'Wales, they state " that to permit immigration to be suspended
or checked in its extent, would be to seal the death-warrant
of colonial prosperity, and to expose to certain ruin the nu-
h'erous flourishing and extending interests which have been
created in the ColonT,"iand it may also be truly affirmed that any
"heck in the supply of labour to New South Wales is also cal-
culated, by reflection, to be highly injurious to the best bite-
tells of the blether Country."
1, It was moved EDWARD IVETT, Esq.. M.P., seconded
'TORN GILCHbRy IST, Esq., oDf Glasgow, and
That
unanimously,
that this Meeting considers the Bounty system of Erni-
khCien, which was originated and established in the Colony,
Oe Colonial authorities, under the administration of Sir
6._-w..nard Bourke, to have been a most valuable means of
ob-
ing the necessary supply of Labour, and to have conferred
,2mc benefit on the Colony. It is estimated that upwards of
4r,-
,von the persons emigrated to New South Wales last year under •
operation of the Bounty system, and in the present year,
vflil) there is reasoa to believe that a vastly increased supply
Lill be furnished under this invaluable system, if left, as here-
afore, to the energy of those engaged in sending it out,
Z_ ulhackled by the imposition of unnecessary and obstructive
rieconditions ' In their estimate pf the great value of the
linty system, this Meeting has the entire concurrence of Sir
?ilaorge Gipps, who, in a despatch to the Secretary of State
the Colonies, presented to, and printed by order of Parlia-
!lent, says "the Bounty system, however, has been found so
L,cr superior to that of Government Emigration, both as
'0 the description of persons supplied by it, and the cost
c't their passage, that it appears to me very doubtful
whether_ any other should be persevered ;" and in another
despatch the Governor, speaking of the Report which had then
recently been presented by the Committee on Emigration in
„a
Colony to the Legislative Council, thus expresses himself :
, am in no way able to dispute the correctness of the con-
tasions of the Committee, in respect to the superiority of the
i'cuunty system over that which is carried on by the immediate
igency of Government. The Bounty system is found to be 4/.
Per head, or about 21 per cent. cheaper than the Government
',stem, reckoning men, women, and children all alike, and
141, king no difference for the quality of the emigrants ; but if
'6 difference be taken into consideration, and especially the
kaaller ronortion of children introduced by the Bounty sys-
temA
, the advantage of that system must be estimated con si-
"rably higher, and I am inclined to think with the ammit-
tce, that 200 Government emigrants cost as much as 3GO
Bounty ones of equal value to the Colony." This, it should be
,
`uslinetly borne in mind, is the voluntary testimony of the Go-
cerrinr of the Colony, in his official communications to the
Secretary of State. As respects that most important consi-
deration—the eciroparative state of health on board Govern-
tent and Bounty ships conveying passengers to New South
ciles, it was stated in evidence before the Committee of the
islative Council at Sydney in 1839, that the relative loss of
"'s en the voyage was as lollows, viz. :
Government Bounty
Ships. Ships.
Of the aggregate number on board 1 in 16 1 in 34
Ditto ef Adults ... lin 45 Lin 99
, Ditto of Children
in the Report of the Committee of 1840, on Immigration,
presented to the Legislative Council, of which the Bishop of
"itstralia was the Chairman, the Committee state—" In pri-
-4 ships,under the Bounty system, there were embarked 884
'rats, viz., 423 Males and 461 Females, and 170 Children—
'Pity male and ninety female. The register of deaths among
"14•111„, has not been preserved, as will be found stated in the
Cidence. As, however, no ships of this class have been placed
Quarantine during the past season, it is reasonable to believe,
aD it is, indeed, a matter of general notoriety, that the immi-
Luta by Bounty ships have arrived invariably in a state of good
th,'and that the casualties at sea hare been exceedinglyfew."
Was moved by JAMES JOHN CUMBIINS, Esq., seconded by
NEIL CAMPBELL, 1.50., and

Lllesolved unanimously,
That thus proved beyond all questira, as the superiority of
illiounty system has been, as a medir m for supplying labour to
Colony, it is a duty of the most urgent obligation on the
of the Government of this country, to encouragikand pro-
ea(rot2 that system by affording every possible facility and free-
4:rir !rota all unnecessary interference with those engaged in
Lau, free-
it on, consistent with the provisions of the existing
,s,'• of the land, and the stringent regulations in force in
New South Wales. as respects all persons introduced into the
Colony under the Bounty system.
It was moved hy WILLIAM Bitows, Esq., seconded by
ROBERT BitooKs, Esq., and

Resolved unanimously,
That this Meeting has learnt with -neat alarm, that, acting
lulder the representations made to him by the Colonial Land
!,IlEmigration Commissioners, the Secretary of State for the
•lonies has permitted them to interfere seriously, and most
_•?
;9uriously, with those engaged in conducting Bounty emigra-
-I°4 in virtue of authority from the Colonial Government, and
ceder strictly-defined conditions and regulations on the part of
r Government; that the Commissioners have actually
a
issued certain " conditions" of a most oppressive, and, as this
tteeting entirely believes, wholly uncalled for nature ; which
eonditions" are a direct infraction of the contracts entered
luny,
by the Colonial Government with persons resident in the
CO°nY, the effect of which, if persevered in, will, this Meeting
,p reason to believe, be the immedi.te and large diminution
the supply of labour under the Bounty system, and its even-
)/144' and early abandonment by those engaged in it.
oved by Joint LAMBERT, Esq., seconded by HENRY
FLOWER, Esq., and
...Resolved unanimously,
What these consequences, so pregnant with cause for alarm,
3d so greatly to be deprecated, will have a powerful tendency
diminish, if not almost entirely to stop, the sale of land in
'a Colony ; the source whence the means of furnishing the
utettluisite supply of labour is derived, inasmuch as in the event
hthe flock owners being compelled to diminish their flocks,
th'in the impossibility of obtaining shepherds and labourers,
Py cannot require any increase of pasture, nor will fresh
Zr• iltal be invested by others in the production of the grea'
-'9,le of the Colony : thus the means of defraying the cost of
17reying out emigrants will be seriously endangered.
"ed. by WILLIAM WALKER, Esq., seconded by GEORGE
HAY DONALDSON, Esq., and

,Resolved unanimously,
!bat this Meeting is desirous that all practicable security
tltn enmfort should be afforded to all persons emigrating under
I,pe Colonial Bounties ; and is of opinion that the all-sufficient
T_tisions of the Passengers Act, and the stringent regulations,
tg'dly enforced as they are, by the Colonial Government, as
Sleets the introduction of labour under its authority (with-
(((' t full and literal compliance with which the parties intro-
('ing it cannot obtain payment of the bounties), afford ample
tnetion and security to all persons proceeding to New
borne
Wales at the Colonial cost ; and this Meeting is fully
krne out in this view by the results of recorded investigations
%P. Colony by Commi,tees of the Legislative Council, acting
%Ott' the appointment of the Governor.
"nil by J. GORE, Esq., seconded by H. BUCKLE, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,
at the following Gentlemen (of whom five shall be a quo-
-0), viz., Stuart Donaldson, Esq., Thomas Iceley, Esq., Ed-
d Divett, Esq., M.P., John S. Brownrigg, Esq. M.P.'
Vnrles Barry Baldwin, Esq., M.P., Thomas Walker, Esq.,
Oiam Brown, Esq., Francis Mowatt, Esq., William Walker,
€:q., Robert Brooks, Esq., Arthur Willis, Esq., James John
anttnins, Esq., Henry Buckle, Esq., George Fife Anga.s,.Esq.,
A 1.4 L. -A
rderdon, Esq., John Gilchrist, Esq. (of Glasgow),
john Smith, Esq. (of Liverpool), Robert How, Esq., and
t° take
Gore, Esq., be, and are hereby appointed, a Committee,
itt„'4lle such measures, by communicating with the Secretary
~tlititte for the Colonies, the Members
.of the Legislature, and
etwi.e as to them shall seem to be expedient, in order to
tts
the serious evils which this meeting apprehends will in-
N. 'My be produced, as respects Bounty emigration, if the
si°Posed interference of the Land and Emigration Commis-
linlers shall be permitted the Secretary of State.
"ed by (ARTHUR Wm.'s, Esq., seconded by CHARLES
GORE, Esq., and
fat
unanimously,
'hat should the Committee,contrary to the earnest hope and
SDeetation of this Meeting, fail in inducing the Secretary of
%tlitte to order the annulment of the " conditions," dated
V 4,4 March, 1841, promnlgated.by the Land and Emigration
kiPtnissioners, a Petition be, without delay, prepared, signed,
II: Presented to the House of Commons, praying that
th4°llrable House to appoint a Committee to investigate
ki.i%tatements made to the Colonial Department by the Land
0 Emigration Commissioners, respecting Bounty emigration,
2,11, Which were presented to the House of Commons on the
t 4 .k of February last, and printed by its order, and generally
tortnquire into and report thereon, and on the best means
Vlnrnishing the requisite supply of labour to New South
t),(Zet; and that until such Committee shall be appointed,
,report presented, and the measures consequent thereupon
have been definitively decided upon, Lord John Russell be
4Z:tinily and very earnestly solicited to direct that the
t " conditions" promulgated by the Land and Emigra•
tes,Commissioners, touching Bounty emigration, be entirely
krt, Commissioners,
tt by EDWARD DIVETT, Esq., and seconded by ARTHUR
WILLIS, Esq., and
Thßesolved unanimously,
Per, at the warmest thanks of this Meeting, as well as of all
N:ns feeling an interest in the great Colony of New
Wales, and in the well-being and comfort of the
Population of the mother country, are justly due to
MARSHALL, Esq., for the eminent services he has
1,11. e' In sending out a large and steady supply of efficient
trAir u",tier the IL.unty system.
°"e<i by
.6A :'ll3 FORBES, Esq., seconded by HENRY
- • wiN, and
Got
ti ThttateV/ed unanimously, nublish these Resolu-
etis he Committee be authorised to , !..1. Chronicle,
the Times, Morning Herald,
The Sun, and Globe, and in such other
eY pu,,'Ll;eations
t,eit,nde y deem proper, with the view of
4oved. Publicity to them giving the most
"Y JOHN MARSHALL, Esq., seconded by WILLIAM
Carried BROWN, Esq., and
lbat,t by acclamation,
trry n,Lte best thanks of this Meeting are due to Ch:ql!s
std Zde'Li.n, Esq., I. P., br his kindn.taking the Chair
ect and for the manner in which he has pre-
e its Proceedings.
CHARLES BARRY BALDWIN, Chairman.