§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the prevention and punishment of Criminal Outrages upon Natives of the Islands of the Pacific Ocean, said, the atrocities of the trade to which this measure had reference, and which had excited the interest of this country, had culminated in the murder of Bishop Patteson, whose loss was a subject of the most sincere regret. Those who, like himself, remembered that Prelate in old Eton days, would perhaps join him in the wish that they could each look back upon so self-denying, God-fearing, man-helping a life as that which had just been sacrificed in so good a cause. The Bishop had devoted his time, his labour, and his fortune, to the good work, and now at last had lost his life in the performance of his duty. The death of that good man, however, would not be without effect if it should lead to an amelioration of the condition of those persons to whom the present Bill referred. There was a large party of honourable and enthusiastic gentlemen in this country who were anxious to repress the trade which had led to these nefarious practices; but, on the other hand, it was impossible to deny that the importation of South Sea Islanders into our Australasian colonies would be most advantageous if properly managed. Bishop Patteson himself wrote—"I advocate the regulation and not the suppression of this traffic," and if it was attempted to put an end to the traffic it would be necessary to consult foreign Powers, which would be attended with considerable delay. What the Government proposed was to render the offence of kidnapping natives felony, and to give to the different Australasian Courts power to try these offences. The Bill would also provide for the attendance of native witnesses, and would facilitate the taking of evidence. This was not 523 the only measure which the Government had taken for the purpose of preventing that which was so justly the subject of complaint. The First Lord of the Admiralty had strengthened the Australian squadron, and orders had been given to take further steps with the view of putting down, if possible, the atrocities of the trade. It was not to be tolerated that the British name should be dishonoured by such practices. England, which had incurred so much trouble and cost in putting down the Slave Trade, would not permit under any guise a slave trade to be carried on wherever its power was sufficient to interfere. The hon. Gentleman concluded by moving for leave to bring in the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill for the prevention and punishment of Criminal Outrages upon Natives of the Islands in the Pacific Ocean, ordered to be brought in by Mr. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN and Mr. WILLIAM EDWARD FORSTER.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 45.]