MORTALITY AMONGST EMIGRANTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1188, 26 January 1864, Page 5

MORTALITY AMONGST EMIGRANTS.

The Government of South Australia has had an important correspondence with Her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners, in reference to the mortality amongst emigrants. The circumstances out of which it originated were connected with the extraordinary mortality that occurred on board the Morning Star, one of the later emigrant vessels to South Australia. The deaths were mainly the result of inattention to proper regulations. It is stated that twenty-five children died on board, which made the rate of mortality 573 per cent., whereas the ordinary rate does not exceed one and a-half per cent. Twenty deaths, according to report, occurred in sixteen families out of sixty-five embarked—of which eleven were in excess of the proper proportion of young children. On this point, the London Emigration Board does not hold itself answerable, as the rule of the board in relation to young children does not apply to holders of colonial certificates or passage tickets, but only to emigrants selected in England. Under such circumstances, it is certainly desirable that the regulation of passenger ships should be placed entirely in the hands of Her Majesty's Commissioners, and that all the different classes of emigrants should be subjected to the same wholesome rules under their authority.

We have before us a communication from the Government Emigration Commissioners relative to the proportion of infants in the families of emigrants, in which they energetically give, warning of the danger of sending families, comprising more than two children under seven, or three under ten years of age. They say —" From a large experience, we find that families containing more than two children under seven or than three children under ten years of age, embarking in so iong a voyage as that to Australia, greatly increase the risk of sickness and mortality on board." In conformity with this evidence the Emigration Commissioners unhesitatingly reject all families of that description when applying to them for passages. It is also stated, "the value of this rule was unmistakably shown when, on one occasion, and upon the pressure of numerous colonists, we consented so far to modify it as to admit families with four children under twelve years—the average rate of mortality in one ship jumped up from about one and a half per cent, at which it stood before the change—to about five per cent. We then reverted to our old rule, when the mortality again dropped to the previous rate." Few persons, we imagine, will be prepared for this statement as to the risk of sickness and mortality on shipboard. It is, nevertheless, indisputable that the number of young children in each family has more to do with the illness and deaths than the relative proportions of the whole number of children and adults in a ship. The emigration authorities, therefore, take a very proper course in recommending the enforcement of strict regulations with regard to the embarkation of young children, and which, we trust, will be rigidly followed in emigrant vessels bound to this colony. In some respects there is evident hardship in imposing restrictions on the emigration of families, for not only are these persons most anxious to emigrate, but they supply us with the best description of emigrants. We cannot, however, on this account, overlook the sanitary conditions to which they are exposed during ship life, and which act with special intensity an the tender frames of children. It is the more desirable to adopt means to render emigrant vessels less destructive to infantile life, and we see no reason to despair of accomplishing this object. The remedy is to be found in proper sanitary changes, by which emigrant vessels may be made as healthy as the best habitations on the land. In many ships the " 'tween decks " is not merely disgusting and unwholesome, but deadly, especially to young children, who need to inhale large supplies of fresh air for their sustenance and growth.

We observe, however, with some surprise, that her Majesty's Emigration Commissioners do not apply the salutary regulation as to young children to passage-warrant holders or nominated emigrants, which is an omission of considerable importance in connection with the system of emigration for this colony. During the year 1862, we learn by a letter from the Emigration Board, that four vessels were dispatched, which conveyed 553 passage-warrant holders and 949 selected 'emigrants, making a total of 1,502 emigrants, equal to 1,394£ statute adults. Of these 2G4 were males and 1,238 females. There were only 28 unmarried males above the age of twelve (of whom 24 were nominated in the colony), against 1,000 females above that age, of Avhom437 were nominated in the colony. This number contains nearly 200 children under twelve years of age. We are, therefore, deeply interested in the management of emigrant vessels bearing young children among their living freight to these shores. The rule which is intended to prevent sickness and mortality should be applied to nominated families, and security taken in chartering vessels that it would be implicitly obeyed. There, arc some other matters in thp emigration correspondence to which we desire to draw attention. The Sou.h Australian authorities direct their agent in London to see that for the future the surgeon superintendents are duly impressed with the necessity for establishing at the commencement of the voyage a proper system of discipline to be observed during the passage, in order to prevent the repetition of very mischievous irregularities. On this functionary rest, in a great degree, not only the general health, but the comfort of the passengers. We are glad to, notice that the " Immigration Commissioner" draws particular attention to the selection of the surgeon superintendent, with the view; to avoid the serious consequences that might arise from the appointment of an inefficient or unsuitable person in that office. This is certainly a matter of the highest moment, and which we particularly press on the notice of the Commissioner of Customs in arranging the charter of emigrant vessels. Within the last few years, the interiors of the majority of passenger ships have undergone many advantageous modifications. Light and ventilation are available, at least as far as possible with the varying circumstances of each ship, and these ameliorations have been so far effective that the whole of the emigration to Australia, under the direction of the Government Emigration Board, has been conducted for the last five years with u mortality of only about one per cent.

This is a lower rate of mortality than occurs on land amongst the same classes. We see that by the introduction of rule? suggested by experience, even this mortality may be lessened, making the voyuge really most conducive to bodily health. It is desirable that our own emigrant service should be under the necessary specific instructions, and proper authority given to secure their adoption in making the preliminary arrangements, thereby doing away with all objections, on sanitary grounds, to sending out " large families of young children." The immigration agent of South Australia suggests that it is inadvisable to dispatch any vessel during the prevalence in England of any epidemic, and further suggests the necessity for the most careful medical examination and supervision of the emigrants, so as to avoid, if possible, the evils which may arise from inattention to this point. We shall be glad to find that these various matters are duly estimated by our own immigration authorities. —Melbourne Age.