§ MR. SCOTTrose to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies the questions of which he had given notice relative to emigration to the Australian colonies. 873 His reason for doing so was, because, as was well known to the hon. Gentleman, the Australian colonies had been in the habit of paying the whole cost of convoying emigrants from this country, while now they proposed paying only half, and getting the same number; and they found multitudes of persons and parishes ready to come into these terms, and get rid of their surplus population, by paying half the passage, instead of keeping them at home at a greater cost. This was what was called assisted emigration, and had been carried on to a great extent. Now, if he was correctly informed, and he believed he was, 1,000 forms for free passages, equal to 3,000 persons, and at the rate of 10l. per head, had been sent down to Dorsetshire, thereby saddling the colonies with the burden of 30,000l. for the conveyance of 3,000 instead of 6,000 persons, who might have gone under the assisted mode, and depriving 3,000 of the benefits they sought, and this at a time when the applications for assisted passages were so numerous, that between one-fourth and one-fifth of those emigrants who have been accepted on payment have to wait, while those who paid nothing were to go directly. He understood that they were not all exactly free passages, for that Dorset and Wilts were filled with families ineligible by reason of their numbers, and who were allowed to pass on payment of the excess. He wished to know if that were true, and therefore asked—1. How many free passages to the Australian colonies it is the present intention of the Colonial Office to give to Dorset and Wilts? 2. Whether it is intended to do the same in other, and what counties? 3. How much these free passages will (at the average cost per head of each statute adult) cost the colony to which they go? 4. How many more emigrants might have gone if the grant had been made to assisted instead of free passengers? 5. Whether it is intended that they should have the preference over previous applicants for assisted passages, and sail shortly, while these latter are detained? 6. The amount of colonial funds at present available for emigration?
§ MR. HAWESreplied, that with regard to the first question, it was not the intention of the Colonial Office to give to any person whomsoever any preference. The same boons would be given to all. But very recently two ships were taken up for 874 Sydney. They were to take in emigrants at Plymouth, but very few emigrants were found ready to go. Under these circumstances, the Emigration Commissioners filled up the complements with persons from Dorsetshire and Wiltshire, who were ready. But that was not intended to be a general rule. The second question was answered by the reply he had given to the first. With regard to the third, the cost would be about fourteen guineas each. As to the fourth, it would of course be quite impossible for him to make any conjecture even as to the number who might have gone, if the grant had been made to assisted instead of free passengers. As to the fifth, he had already stated that no preference would be given, nor was any preference intended to be given. With regard to the last question, as to the funds, there were 50,000l. available at present, for the purposes of emigration. And unless some further remittances should take place from the colonies, that was the entire of the moans at their disposal.
§ MR. SCOTTBut there has been preference. One-fourth of the assisted passengers are now waiting. I wish to know whether these two counties are to have the 50,000l., to the exclusion of England and Scotland? If 1,000 forms, representing 3,000 persons, had been sent to Dorset and Wilts, that would be just 42,000l., and would leave only 8,000l. of the remaining fund for the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. He should be glad to know if any correspondence which had taken place on the subject would be laid on the table. This was the more desirable, as it might remove any suspicion that the arrangements of Government were made with a view to clear the estates of certain Gentlemen at the expense of the rest of England.
§ MR. HAWESwould make inquiry if there was any correspondence. He wished, however, to assure the hon. Member that no favour had been shown to any particular parties.
§ Subject at an end.