QSA6820 1891 Letter from AH Zillman to Under Colonial Secretary 4 December, Correspondence re supply of rations to Aborigines, DR57971

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Benches Court House Col Sec PM Herberton 29. Dec. 1891 ----------------------------------------- [Stamp] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE . QUEENSLAND 14879/ 29.DEC.91 [Stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 01734. QUEENSLAND 27.JAN.92

The Under Colonial Secretary Brisbane

Re Mr Putt's statement in feeding blacks at Atherton

Sir

Returning herewith your B. C. 3.12.91 I have the honor to report thereon as follows—I am distinctly and decidedly of opinion that the time has not yet arrived when it would be advisable or safe to cease feeding the blacks at Atherton. I believe were the rations stopped now we should have a return to the old state of affairs so bitterly complained of by the Selectors three or four years ago intensified by the knowledge obtained by the blacks through intercourse with the Malays. I shall proceed to answer Mr. Putts statements seriatim.

A good deal of the land about Atherton is sublet to Chinamen but I only know of one case where it is let to Malays. There may be some other cases but I am not aware of them. If the blacks work for Chinamen or Malays they feed and clothe them in the same manner as the Europeans. The blacks are not absorbed principally by Chinese & Malays. My information is that Mr. Putt himself employs fourteen of them. The Government do not find the blacks who are in work in rations. On questioning the Constable in charge at Atherton under whose supervision the rations are distributed, he informs me that they occasionaly get a little beef on Saturdays

[In margin] [Stamp] PREVIOUS 91 14474 Police Serial No. 2

HT 30 12 91

Inform Mr. Putt -- 31.12.91

E. C. Putt 4 [...] 92 (24 ---------------------

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Saturdays and this is done to keep them tractable and quiet. They cannot understand that they are not to participate in the food when they are in Camp. A boy will at such times get about 2lbs of beef which they seem to prefer to flour and which the present contract is certainly very cheap.

The chief object, I take it, is to restrain the Aborigines from commiting depredations and I maintain that since they have been fed this object has been attained at a far less cost to the Government than could have been possible under the old system of sending the troopers after them.

Under the old system of Native Police patrol they were never kept in subjection and depredations never ceased but were constantly recurring. Now we have practically no depredations and upwards of 400 Aborigines are managed & controlled by one Constable and Three trackers.

No 2 Is quite true, nor do those about Atherton participate beyond what I have already stated. Whilst in work my instructions are that those employing them must feed and clothe them. This I understand is done and the little they may occasionally get is neither here nor there and further I think it is wise, in the general good, to give them an occasional feed. It keeps them from thieving at an infinitismal [sic] cost.

No 3 Is untrue. Rations are supplied twice a week. For a few months they were distributed weekly but under the present contract they are fed as stated. I have just examined the book kept

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kept by Constable Higgins & Find that the average distribution right through has been about twice weekly. Less flour is now given as the beef goes further. It is supplied very Cheap and Constable Higgins informs me the blacks prefer it to flour.

No 4 Is Mr. Putts opinion. I beg to differ with him and feel sure there would be a cry of --- indignation at once from the Settlers in the Barron Valley were the distributions of rations stopped. I cannot refrain here from saying that Mr. Putts opinion has little or no weight in the district. He is commonly termed a wind bag. A short time since his opinions were totally different to those expressed in his letter to the Minister. I enclose you a cutting from one of the local papers which shows that Mr. Putts opinion in Sept. last was that the amount allowed to feed the Blacks should be increased to £40 per month. I believe if tenders had not been called for the supply of rations Mr. Putts letter would never have been written and that he is pulling the chesnuts out of the fire for some one else.

No 5 With ampler police protection than we now have before the blacks were brought in, it was found impossible to protect the Selectors crops. The black question is not solved but is in course of solution which under the present system is eminently satisfactory and I would not dare (feeling the terrible responsibility) to suggest or recommend any alteration of that system at present or for some considerable time to come. That the back scrubs are teeming

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teeming with tucker is not true. My information is that it is rather scarce.

In my own mind I feel pretty certain that this letter does not originally emanate from Mr. Putt and that some one else is pulling the strings.

I have the honor to be Sir Your Obedient Servt. A.H. Zillman, P.M.

Get all these papers on Blacks, together.

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