The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1884.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4353, 26 April 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1884.

For the cause tost Jocks assistance, For the wrongtbat needs reaistanoe. For the future in the distance. And the fteoi that we am do.

Tue report of the Conoraission appointed to inquire into the working of the Western Pacific OrderS'in-Council reached the polony by tho Suez mail two days ago.- The evidence it contains of gross abuses in the labour traffic is of so striking a character that much of the original prejudice against the report will be overcome. It appears that the utrocltlos committed by labour vessels have besn made the subject of complaint to the British Government by Baron Plessen, German Charge d'Affaires in % England. He alleges that though these vessels are " regularly accompanied by Government officers whose business it is_ to see that the colonial regulations respecting the engage ment and transport of tho Polynesian labourers.are carried out," yet "instances are not wanting, according to communications in the hands of the Imperial Government, in which the natives, who are designated free labourers, have been brought on board against their will, and are detained there by force." "Naturally," says Boron Plessen, " such natives do not remain voluntarily on board, but h&vo to be narrowly watched; when, as is very frequent, escapes are attempted, the crew make use of their firearms, and if the pursuit, is followed up ob shore bloody conflicts often ensue." A report from Commandant Karchpr to toe German Admiralty wMcfr .accompanies Boron Plesaen's report alleges th at the lives of German Bottlers'an the islands are '.endangered in eoneMjnenga of the ijatires, "ign'or-

ant of tho distinction between various nationalities, seeking to avenge a wrong inflicted on them upon tho first person in their presence." He further declares that, "If only a part is truo of what the Consul told me, and what lias been recounted to me by others, then the labour recruiting is simply slave dealing. According to these accounts the captains not only buy the people from the chiefs for lirearms, and even breech-loading firearms and ammunition, but entice the people who come alongside in their canoes to barter on board, and then detain them, or they even steal the ereiv of a canoe which they meet with at sea." It is fair to state that the Commissioners express the opinion that " A resort to force, at ull events on the part of English recruiters, to secure labourers is now of very rare and exceptional occurrence amongst those islands which are most frequented, and which have hitherto formed the chief sources from which labour has been supplied."

The Rev. H. A. Robertson, a missionary just returned from Erromango, says : " Tho recruiting is virtually a matter of purchase. He had seen men paid for by ' presents' of muskets to chiefs or friends; theso being accepted, the men are, according to native etiquette, under a moral obligation to enlist as desired."

Tho report of the Commission states that: " The purchase of recrnits is undoubtedly common under various forms; nor is it denied by tho lubour agents, who, indeed, say openly that it is essential to the continuance of the traffic That

women are (especially in the Line islands) recruited avowedly for immoral purposes is undeniable."

Another very grave charge made in tlie report is that of negligences in returning time-expired recruits to their proper homes, some being lnndod among enemies, thus forfeiting their lives. The mortality among the labourers is also extraordinary. Dr, MacCJregor, Chief Medical Officer of Fiji, given tho result of his visit to seven plantations on the Rewa River ; on one CBtate he found tho Polynesian labourers dying at the rate of 750 per 1,000 a year, tho immediato causo of mortality being dysontery, induced by exposuro and bad diet. The Kov. 11. A. Robertson deposes that out of GOO natives recruited at Erromango for Queensland only 200 ever came back.

Xlicso shocking statements will cause as much indignation in tho colonies as they can possibly havo done at Home. Colonists, us a body, have beon accused of sympathising with the abuses of tho labour trallic, but no more foul libel was ever tnudo upon Englishmen. Any wise measure that will place the traffic undor proper restrictions and protect the natives will bo wolcomod. Tho recommendations of the Commission are that the traffic bo placed entiroly under Imperial control ; that the High Commissioner's oflico bo separated from the Governorship of Fiji, and that five ' Deputy Commissioners bo appointed—one for South Now Guinea; one for North Now Guinea, Now Britain, and New Ireland j ono for Now Hebrides, and ono each for tho South and North Solomons and adjacont groups, and that annual visits bo made to tho Lino Islands, Gilbojt, Elliee, Caroline, and Marshall Groups ; tho High Coinmi«sUmer to bo furnished with a steam yacht of considerable tonnage, and each Deputy Commissioner with a sailing boat of irom five to twenty tons. Enlarged powors over British subjectsareproposed for tho High Commissioner and naval officers. Tho proposed system would prove costly odour)) ftnd arbitrary enough to put down labour abuses, and we aro almost inclined to think that the sug« gested alternative of complete prohibition of tho Polynesian labour traffic is tho prcforable remedy, leaving tho Island and Queensland planters to procure coolie labour. The unbearable tyranny of tho irresponsible officers which tho Commissioners desire to croato, unless some simple form of appeal from their oppressions were •provided, would probably do moro injury to tho legitimate island trade (throwing it into foreign vessels) than tho labour traffic is worth. These recommendations ought not to be carried into effect until they have beon fully considered by the Parliaments of the several colooiea which are chiefly affected, and which are quite as capable of dealing with the subject as the Colonial (Mice in London is. Tlio trade of the throe principal colonie3 engaged in the Pacilic trado is stated in tho report to bo thus apportioned :—

Vessels. Crew. Tonnage. Queensland .. ..51 S?J 8,803 New South Wales .. 13S 2.391 18,! HiT» New Zealand .. .. 132 2,118 50.U1