THE KANAKA QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2358, 19 May 1892, Page 1

THE KANAKA QUESTION.

London, May 15. Mr Playford’s statement that the Kanakas in Queensland would be practically slaves has been extensively utilised by the newspapers who are opposing the trade. The Daily News says that the assurance of the Queensland Government with regard to the employment of Kanakas having been false before, proves that they will be false again, and declares that Lord Knutsford’s complacency in the matter is causing apprehension throughout England. May 16. Sir J. F. Garrick, Agent-General for Queensland, in a letter to the Times states that the people of England may rest assured that the Colonial Government will fearlessly and rigidly enforce the revised rules regarding the employment of Kanaka labor, and that new safeguards will render recruiting as free of evil as the importation of coolies. The Times, commenting on the letter, belie A res that ihere is no possibility of a repetition of the Hopeful blackbirding case, yet Queensland has incurred very grave responsibility, and is bound to fulfil her promises to provide safeguards against a repetition of former abuses. In the House of Commons Baron de Worms told Mr J. A, Picton, the member for Leicester, that the Government decline to take the extreme course of disallowing the Kanaka Act passed by the Queensland legislature, but had agreed to cable to Queensland, asking for the full terras of the stringent regulations contained in the Act.

Brisbane, May 16. Mr Playford complains that he is entirely misrepresented in the interview and denies that he asserted that Kanakas in Queensland would be virtually slaves. He says he approves of the scheme of the Queensland Government for the employment of Kanaka labour.