THE TRANSVAAL HORROR.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1904, Page 9

THE TRANSVAAL HORROR.

TO THE BDITOJt. Sir— By way of supplement to ay letter on this question in the Post of the 3rd inst., it is interesting to note tho pronouncement of John Stuart Mill on tho subject of indentured labour. In the sixties tho question of Chinese immigration, was a burning ono in California.. Henry George, who was then conducting a paper (Tho Transcript) in California, vigorously opposed it. Ho sent a letter, covering an article he had written on tho subject for the New York Tribune, to Mr. Mill, and asked his view on the general ' question of Chineso immigration. The latter's reply, which ie dated "Avignon, France, 23rd October, ltioy," is contained ih the. "Life of Henry George." I ask you to reprint the following extract, which is particularly apposite: — "One Mud of restrictive measure seems to me not only desirable, but absolutely called for— the most stringent laws against introducing Chinese immigrants as coolies, le., under contract binding them to tho service of toarticular persons. All rsuch • obligations aro a form of compulsory labour— that is, of slavery ; nnd though I know Ih* legal invalidity of such contracts does nob prevent them being made, I cannot bub thmk that if pains .were taken to m«Jt» it known to the immigrants "that .."suck engagements are- not legally binding, and especially if it were made a penal offonce to enter into them, that mode of immigration at least would receive, a, considerable check." Your reader* will note that this extract bears out what I said in my last letter— chat such' ''contracts" are invalid at common law. Wa may decide for ourselves .whether, Mr. Mill's description' of coolie labour is less accurate than that implied by Sir A J. Cadman's ruling. Jf Mr. were, alive to-day, we may imagine now .ha would deal with the scandalous behaviour of Joseph Chamberlain and his arrogant satrap, Milner.— l am, etc., p - J - O'REGAN, Wadestown, 6th September.