The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-20

Defence OF the Poiynesian Labor System
Another Case Of Wholesale KidDa ppins--
Complaints of six Polyuesiaus Against Their
Rn,n,aya.

Defence OF the Poiynesian Labor System
Another Case Of Wholesale KidDa ppins--
Complaints of six Polynesinns Against Their
Employer.
SYDNEY, Nov. 2, 1853.
the disclosures which have recently been made OF
the horrible iniquities OF the recently inaugurated
slave system OF Queensland have naturally awaken
ed the fears OF those interested In cheap labor.n
The Poynesian Laborer's act has been appealed to
US evidence OF the Willingness Of the planters to pre-
vent abuses; but rigid examination OF its pro-
visions only shows their nadequacy to protect the
unfortunate South Sea Islanders from the brutality
and the avarice OF their masters Besides II Is clear
tnat the leading article OF the so-called contract
tnat compelling the return OF the Polynesans to
their respective islands within thirty-nine moons.
at their employers expense--can never be
observed. These men are brought from
number OF different islands, hundreds
OF miles apart The various human cargoes
divided among dozens OF planters, and on the same
plantations representatives from score OF Islands,
scattered all over the south Pacific, may be found.
HOW, tuen, can the planter, wnen the Term ol SER
vice expires OBTAIN transport Tor has ''iaDorers" 10
tneir nohesf The expense Of doing this would GER
tainly absorb great share OF his profits, aud In
many cases the natives 10 not even know the Euro
pean or common name under which their island
passes and II is by means carefully registered.
Announcer Migrant case OF kidnapping ut savage
island hiis come 10 light. Seventy native men and
thiiy unmarried women have been lorcibly alb
Quoted from this island. The facts OF the being
represented at the Congregational Union, which
met u lew days ago III thiS city, By the Rev. John
Graham zone OF the leading friends vi the Federal
cause IN Australia during the war;, the following
resolution was Adopted
That this Union requests its committee TO take into con
sderaton the importation OF South Sea island aborers
petition at an early date the Of
nlas OF ureat Britain TO adopt ell ecua to
gether. ''''''a'A : '''p " 49,
An interesting case has just turned up at the
Central Police Court in Brisbane. Six Polyneslan
laborers, belonging to Colonel Mackenzie, planter,
very near the city. preferred a complaint against
their master All the cases being very much alike,
it was agreed that one should settle all the
plants. Nlger, the only Christian among the
islanders was accordingly selected. lie stated that
Colonel Mackenzie abused and beat his nativcs
tnat they were made to work on Sundays
that their food was insufficient and too much
OF 1t dry" FOOD, and that they had no tea
or sugar. colonel Mackenzie denied the beating,
promised to give them foou III quantity. and IN
quality more to their liking, and stated that the
OF work given them 10 do on Sundays was neces-
sary. The end OF the matter was that the Court
sent the men back to their employer. AS q slgnih-
cant feature OF the case 1t may be mentioned that
the defence OF Colonel Mackenzie not translated
10 the natives, the magistrate accepting his testi-
mony without hesitation though the natives were
rigdy questioned and crOss-examined.
IL is satisfactory to know that the real features OF
the Polynesan LABOR system are pretty well appre
clated by the home government The following eN-
tract from letter addressed by the Lords oI the
Admiralty to the Colonial ONCE seems to show that
vigorous measures will soon be taken 10 put down
essential and necessary part OF the systematic
kidnapping or the islanders:-
From the perusa Of these papers his viii perceive
how rapidly the trade OF procuring aborers
hunting and slave trading. The collection
savages brought system OF kidnapping and piracy; and
this in turn ed by natural process the OF
white visiting the islands for the purposes lawful
trade. My lords believe from the reports vi their officers
that these islanders incapable OF understanding the
nature of written contract with employer. or
that any of them would knowingly and willingly
engage themselves work far their own
country at all place, their home
more than lew My lords also strongly i'm.
pressed with the belief that whatever be
the webeing liberty these people their
being brought nominay within reach the and trD-
OF queensland that proper efficient control
the in which these people
obtained and placed board ship The task their
collection and shipment from the nature OF the work,
likely fall into the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS ana
nercenary Set who under pretence OF persuading the
natives into making engagements laborefs FOR term
OF years, would hesitate commit acts OF kidnapping,
piracy murder IL be added that Of the wre,ched
Islanders imported into Peru nearly all persisted from the
OF the work and the change OF living and climate
The government OF compelled the strong
England and France to put summary end
to the trade. Entertaining these views, lords are unable
any recommendation with regard to framing
nc. OF the Colonial Legislature for the regulation Of the
introduction OF these people into the colony. In
pance With hts Grace's wishes, lords viii send out
the senior officer the Australian station to make
inquiries report whether has been Improperly
transported from the FeeJee Islands by British SUBJECTS
am, &c, w. q. Rom AlsE.