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[digital number] 0533

THIS ITEM IS TOP-NUMBERED TO 823/1895W

Benches
Court House
Col Sec
PM Herberton 29. Dec. 1891
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[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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