, 1888-06-06

grants come mostly from Swallow, through
Singapore, where they are carefully ex.
amined by English officials to ascertain
whether they know where they are going
and whether they go voluntarily. They
are mainly engaged in tobacco. growing
and curing, and the thrifty do we'll but
gambling is encouraged by the head la
bourerS, and those who lose are compelled
to remain working year after year. The
Dutch laws provide that no labOurer shall
be engaged for more than s years, and
that he shall be at liberty to go home
after this period, whether he is in debt or
not, but the labourers are ignorant of this,
and are ill-treated in consequence But
the Dutch authorities promised the Com
mission to have this rectiied. In Batavia
the Chinese are heavily taxed, and gam
bling prevails among them. In other
Dutch possessions there ore over 200 900
Chinese, who care most 0~utrageously trea-
ted by the Dutch Authorities, aud when
the Commission visited them they all with
one impulse poured forth heir wrongs"
In Australia the Commissioner visited
a large number of places at or near the
coast. "The island of Australia, which
is a dependency of England, is one of the
five great continents, of vast extent in
area, and possessing the richest natural
pluuuCUS. MIIcIdlS VI all kIuuS are IOuuu
there, and large numbers of Chinese
emigrate thither to engage in mining and
other OccupatiOns.' A heavy tax, varying
from G1O to $50 per head, is levied on
Chinese landing there, the object being to
prevent the immigration. Wherever the
Commissioners went they received the
most hearty and enthusiastic receptions
from their c0untrymen, who prayed that
measures for their protection might be
speedily adopted. "rhe number of
Chinese subjects at present trading or
working in foreign lands does not fall short
Of several millions, and in some ports the
10 emigration is increasing, and our mar-
chants are thriving. The advancing pro-
SperIty OF our people has attracted the
attention of the variOaS foreign Govern
lnentS, and their jealousy has been arOuS-
CT. The DItch authorities nave been
endeaV0urlng to eXpel the Chinese from
their colonies, and collisions between the
Chinese aud natives are becoming gilmore
frequent Occurrences. If measures are not
adopted to render the residence Of our
citizens abroad more secure and peaceful,
they will all flock home, and what will
become OF this surplus population scatter
Ell along our Sc coast? Tbs question of
atfordlng efficient protection to our subjects
abroad Is, therefore,, one that dem lnlS our
Immediate attention AMI SOlicitud5. Wher.
ever the Commissioner visited they we're
received with courtesy 10y the Officials of
the various foreign Governments. But
more especially did the English off 3ials
manifest their friendship and good will"
SO much for what the commissioners
saw. On this the VicerOy makes various
suggestions for the more eff cient prOtec-
ton OF Chinese emigrants, but practically
tney all resolve themselves into One-viz.,
the appointment of Chinese ConSuls abroad
to look after the interests of their country
men. THUS he wants to see COnSulS-G ener-
al III Manila, i'll some one of the Dutch
possessions in the Malay Archipelago, in
Sydney, and in Singapore, with subordinate
COnSuls and Vice-Consuls at various places
in the Philippines, Java, Sumatra, Penang,
Kangoon, Brisbane, Victoria, &c. Indeed,
so Important and urgent did he deem it to
appoint a Consul General to Manila, that
he got the consent of the Government of
Madrid for the purpose, but the Manila
Government objected, and the consent
was withdrawn. In Singapore he would
have the Consul General exercise a kind
OF coordinate power with the Colonial
Registrar General for the prevention of
Irregularities and deception on the la
bOurerS. The COnSuls would be supported
out OF the fees derived from the Chinese
residents In the various places, and if
there is q balance IL cOuId he raSarvad 40