§ Mr. Ewartbegged to put a question to the noble Lord, the Secretary for the Colonies, upon the subject of what was called bounty orders, which had been formerly granted by the Government for the encouragement of emigration. The bounty orders, during the period of office of the late Government, had been suddenly suspended; and those interested in promoting emigration had been subjected to considerable suffering by that suspension. Many of them held bounty orders, and they expected that their cases would be taken into consideration when the system was resumed. The noble Lord had given notice of his intention to resume these orders, and he desired to know whether, in accordance with the views of these persons, their case would be considered?
Lord Stanleysaid, that the hon. Member was aware, that shortly before the change of Government, two years ago, the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) then Secretary for Colonial Affairs, found that so many of these orders had been issued, that it was impossible that the finances of the colonies on which they were charged, could meet the demands upon them. The outstanding bounty orders on the Australian colonies at that time amounted to a million of money, which was to be paid in the course of two years. The noble Lord, therefore, had felt compelled, and he was convinced that the noble Lord had acted correctly, after giving sufficient notice to the present holders of these orders, to declare that, after a limited time, these orders should not be considered as being any longer binding. It was stated, however, that if emigration or 1299 bounty orders should be thereafter resumed, the claims of these parties should be taken into consideration. The result had been, that up to this time there had not been any surplus arising out of the monies appropriated to the payment of the bounty orders. He would not now enter into the question of the abuse of the bounty orders, but they had of late been employed for a different purpose to that for which they were originally intended. The original intention had been to afford to colonists, possessing certain means, in consideration of their laying out a certain sum of money in the colony, the power of bringing out emigrants at the public expense; but they had become matters of transfer and sale, and it was uncertain, therefore, into whose hands they fell. In consequence of complaints which had been made of the want of labour in the Australian colonies, the Government had decided on issuing tenders to take out a limited number of emigrants to those colonies, on the faith of such funds as should be forthcoming in the colonies. The object was not to renew the system of bounty orders; but to alter that plan. He did not think that those persons, who two years ago held bounty orders, had such a claim as justified the Government in allowing them to receive 20l. per head for all emigrants, when at the present rate of freight, the same advantages could be obtained at 16l. or 17l. per head.
§ Mr. Ewartunderstood the noble Lord then to say that he did not think that the holders of the bounty orders had an equitable claim on the Government.
Lord Stanleydid not think that parties who had entered into these engagements two years ago had secured to themselves any preference in carrying out their undertaking.