THE RECIDIVISTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1536, 6 January 1887, Page 3

THE RECIDIVISTES.

Mail*, under date London, Nor. 28th, bring details of ttir Graham Berry's despatch to the Under Secretary of the Colonies regarding the recidivate question. Acknowledging a copy of L«rd Lyons' despatch, Sir Graham requests that the Under-Secre-tary will convpy to Mr Stanhope his deep regret that France will persist in a course detrimental to the colonies, and notwithstanding the concurrence of opinion in ISngland and the colonies that the transportation of criminals to the neighborhood of the communities of Australasia is unfriendly «nd unjustifiable. He contends tbst, this view is fully justified by Mr Waddington'e allusion that if the French proposals hail been accepted transportation would cxase, and declares that the annexation of the inland* wi'l nowise assist the dealing with habitual criminals, There is no cnnnectit n, be urges, between the recidivistes and the New Hebrides questions, and the decisions of the French Government on» calculated to embitter the relations between France and Australia. He proceeds to say it is well known and admitted that without an extension of territory it is impossible to retain more convicts in New Caledonia, »pd consequently these sweepings from the will be precipitated on Australasian shores, and it is evident that the Governments will b» bound to take measures to defend their populations from the moral contamination otherwise {oepiiable, Sir Graham Berry hopes that the Jpoperjal Government will induce France to rectpsider her ji&oißJons, and come to the deterr mination to refrain from a course calculated tO" deeply offend and jrrjtate a frjendh/ Power. Lord Jddeslejgh wrote to tfae Chowan °f' tne ren P l > IMg" 1 Committee enclosing a copy pi Sir ! Graham Berry'« despatch.