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IN-LETTER 4884/1901 Aboriginal Protector Nthn. Div

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sister the general public is so ready to condemn. I have on several
occasions had to point out to employers the advisability,
when the time comes, of getting these girls properly and suitably
married to men of their own race and colour, a condition
in which - the lawful exercise of their physiological functions -
there is far more chance and hope of their remaining happy and
contented. As in the majority of cases this cannot unfortunately
be arranged, it is, to my thinking, far more charitable and merciful
to send them, while they are as yet young and uncontaminated,
to the different Missions where, so soon as they arrive
at an age suitable, they are married and settle down to lives
of happiness to themselves and of usefulness to the State. On
the other hand, brought up in a false position as "one of the
family &c" the time arrives sooner or later when the true-blooded
or half-caste girl realises that she is a Pariah amongst
those very people with whom, probably ever since she can remember,
she has associated more or less as an equal. Is it matter
for wonder that any such should finally end badly? Here for instance
is the case of "Minnie" a half-caste woman about 20 yrs
of age, who has just been sent to the Fraser Island Mission.
"She is an intelligent girl, having been brought up by white
people: she can read and write and is an excellent servant when
she can be kept away from the drink. She has now however become
acquainted with some white people of bad character and is going
from bad to worse."

The above cases will, I trust, vindicate my course of action in
the disposal of aboriginal children - especially the females. I
look forward with confidence to the legislature strengthening
my hands in giving me additional powers to cope with the accompanying
evils and abuses which, though brought under my notice,
I am as yet unable to prevent and to control.

Mixed Marriages. No marriage of a female aboriginal with any
other than an aboriginal should be celebrated without the authority
of the Home Secretary. Legal marriages continue to take
place with Europeans, coloured aliens &c. Although the English