Western Commission Report.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 48, 3 May 1884, Page 3

Western Commission Report.

The report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the Western Pacific Orders-in-Council reached the colony by the 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 atrocities 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 Baron Plessen, " such natives do not remain voluntarily on board, but have 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 on shore bloody conflicts often ensue." A report from Commandant Karcher 'to the German Admiralty which accompanies Baron Plessen's report alleges that the lives of German settlers on the islands are endangered in consequence of the natives, "ignor ant of the distinction between various nationalities, seeking to avenge a wrong inflicted on them upon the first person in their presence." He further declares that, "If only a part is true of what the Consul told me, and what has 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 firearms, 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 crew of a canoe which they meet with at sea." It is fair to state that the Commissioners express the opinion that " A resort to foroe, at all 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 f rom Erromango, says : " The recruiting is virtually a matter of purchase. He had seen men paid for by c presents j of muskets to chiefs or friends; these being accepted, the men are, according to native etiquette, under a moral obligation to enlist as dosired." The report of the Commission states that : " The purchase of recruits is undoubtedly common under various forms; nor is it denied by the labour agents, who, indeed, say openly that it is essential to the coni tinuance of the traffic. . . . • That women are (especially in, the Line islands) recruited avowedly, for immoral purposes is undeniable." ' Another very grave charge made m^the report is that of negligence in returning time-expired recruits to their, proper homes, some being ,landed,among enemies,' thus forfeiting their, lives., ,The^ s mor-' tality amon^ths labourers is $s.o f?tr^

of his, visit tb, se^nr^lafiteticms^onMHj Rewa River j on/dne;.os^^ShißMp%d|M|j Polynesian labourers * dy lng^at '.the^aMo| 750 per j;pOO> year,|thVimmedia|e ti&uHeot mortdlif y < Being 'dyseh£ery,linSuce^ by/ ex* positre ,and bad- diefc./';The"Key f 4|sji£Al Robertson depose^ that;:oub plGQQtnatives. recruited, at Erromango f or,Q.ueensland only 200 evercanie back. ', ' .' ' These shocking statements will cause as much indignation ip thecolonies as ,theyj can possibly -have done at-Home. ; Colonists^ as a body, have been accused of ing with the* abuses of the labour traffic, t but no more foul libel was ever mfide/upon; Englishmen. Any wise measure tKat wilt place tHe traffic under proper restriction^ and protect the .natives will be TirelcomedrThe recommendations of the Commission are that the traffic be placed "entirely under Imperial control ; that 'the ' High Commisrioner's office be -separated from the Governorship of Fiji, and that five Deputy Commissioners be appointed—one for South New Guinea; one for North New Guinea, New Britain, and New Ireland ; one for New Hebrides, and one each for the South and North Solomons and adjacent groups, and that annual visits be made to the Line Islands, Gilbert, Ellice, Caroline, and Marshall Groups ; the High Commissioner to be furnished with a steam yacht of considerable tonnage, and each Deputy Commissioner with a sailing boat- of irom five to twenty tons. Enlarged powers over British subjectsareproposed for the High Commissioner and navai officers. The proposed system would prove costly enough and arbitrary enough to t put down labour abuses, arid we are almost inclined to think that the Bug* gested alternative of complete prohibition of the Polynesian labour traffic is the preferable remedy, leaving the Island and Queensland planters to procure coolie labour. The unbearable tyranny of the irresponsible officers which the Commissioners desire to create, unless some simple form of appeal from their oppressions were provided, would probably do more injury to the legitimate island trade (throwing it into foreign vessels) than the labour traffic is worth. These recommendations ought not to be carried into effect until they hare been fully considered by the Parliaments of the several colonies which are chiefly affected, and which are quite as capable of dealing with the subject as the Colonial Office in London is. The trade of the three principal colonies engaged in the Pacific trade is stated in the report to be thus apportioned :—: —

iueensland rew South Wales Few Zealand .. Vessel .. 51 .. 138 .. 132 Is. Crew. ' 522 2.391 2,118 Tonnage 8,803 48,955 50,444 c.