THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1241, 26 May 1864, Page 2

THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

The Argus of the 12th contains the following resume of the proceedings in the Legislative Assembly on this question:—

Mr. Kyte brought forward his motion for the placing on an- additional Estimate of the sum of £5000, for the purpose of defraying the cost of sending expirees (not exceeding 300 in number) to Great Britain during the present year. No doubt, he observed, the course which he proposed would be distasteful to the feelings of the British people, but the feelings of the British people were not to be considered when the moral welfare of the colony was involved. He was not for the adoption of strong measures by way of retaliation ; he preferred the attitude of petition and supplication, but it could not be forgotten that air the protests which had been sent home against transportation to Australia had been received with something akin to a sneer, and it would appear that the prospect of the abolition of the grievance was as distant as ever. He hoped that the mere passing of the motion would have the effect of inducing the Imperial Government to retrace its steps, and lead to the discontinuance of transportation to Australia once and for ever. Mr. Lewis seconded the motion. Mr. M'Culloch, while admitting-:the importance of using every legitimate and proper means to secure the abolition of transportation, contended that the motion was one which ought not to command the attention of Parliament. He denied that no heed had been given to the remonstranceswhich had been sent home on this question. Remonstrance led to the abolition of transportation to Tasmania, and caused the Imperial Government to refrain from adopting all the recommendations of the Penal Servitude Commissioners. The .passing of the motion would have a most damaging eifeet upon the character of the colony in the mother country, and supposing 300 expirees could be landed on the shores of England, what iras to prevent England giving Victoria 10,000 criminals in return ? Already a Legislative remonstrance against the intentions of the Imperial Government have been forwarded to England. If an unfavourable answer were given to that remonstrance it would then be the duty of the government to suggest some course of action to the House. He trusted that hon. members wonld not entertain the motion, however continuously and energetically they might be disposed to protest against the action of the Imperial authorities. The question must be dealt with in a more statesiiianlike and dignified manner than was contemplated by the motion.. Mr. Haines submitted that the disposition manifested by the House of Commons showed that further remonstrance, was useless. The time had now arrived for action. It was not to be supposed that the Imperial Legislature, having passed a measure relating to transportation would be disposed to repeal it in the next session. And there was no guarantee that the number of convicts sent annually to Australia would be limited to 600. lie did not exactly approve of the motioli, but he should vote for it, if only to show his detestation of the cool outrage about, to be perpetrated on the whole of the Australian colonies.

. Mr. Higinbotharn characterised the motion as eminently unpractical. The colony had nothing else to appeal to than the sympathy and reason of the people of England, and that sympathy would be lost by the passing of the motion. In dealing with the question, vapouring talk, which would only create ridicule, should be avoided. He would suggest the withdrawal of the motion, at ail'events until they were aware of the manner in which the resolutions adopted by the legislature in March last were received in England.

Mr. O'Shanassy insisted that the determination of the British, Government was sufficiently conveyed by the report of the debate which took place in the House of Commons, on the introduction of Sir Grey's bill in February; and that the resolutions sent honie in March contained nothing additional to what had previously been forwarded to the Imperial authorities in the .shape of remonstrance. He saw no practical difficulty in the way of carrying out the resolution, because a few convicts could be sent home by every ship which left Melbourne. He expected that the Chief Secretary would have met the motion by j|i| intimation that tha programme which the Government proposed submitting to "the country at the general election would include a measure which would deal with the question. Whatever might be the fate of the motion, the debate would, no doubt, have a profitable result.

Mr. Michie contended that the address which went home in March contained a distinct and unequivocal intimation as to what the Government proposed to do in. the event of their representations proving unavailing. When that address was discussed, an amendment was suggested, to the effect'that if Western Australia needed conviots Victoria was prepared to supply thorn. The member for Kilmore characterized the proposal as a burlesque. The present motion was a still greater burlesque. The colony stood in relation to tho subject just in the same position as it did in March last ; and he trusted that this position would not be weakened by any false step.

Mr. Duffy urged that It was necessary to adopt some such motion as that proposed, if only to show the depth of the feelings of the people of Victoria on this question. Such amotion would have the effect of awakening the people of England to the conviction that transportation to Australia was an intolerable wrong, which must not be continued.

After remarks from Mr. Berry, Mr. Johnstone, and Mr. Don, the motion was withdrawn.—Araus May 12. * '