Source.—A Letter from Sydney. E.G. Wakefield (Gouger, 1829), Appendix
The failure of the first attempt to settle Western Australia gave rise to much thought upon the theory of colonization. The ideas most generally accepted were those of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who summarized his theory as follows:
Outline Of A System Of Colonization
It is suggested:
Article I.
That a payment in money of—— per acre, be required for all future grants of land without exception.
Article II.
That all land now granted, and to be granted, throughout the colony, be declared liable to a tax of—— per cent. upon the actual rent.
Article III.
That the proceeds of the tax upon rent, and of sales, form an EMIGRATION FUND, to be employed in the conveyance of British laborers to the colony free of cost.
Article IV.
That those to whom the administration of the Fund shall be entrusted, be empowered to raise money on that security, as money is raised on the security of parish and county rates in England.
Article V.
That the supply of laborers be as nearly as possible proportioned to the demand for Labor at each Settlement; so that Capitalists shall never suffer from an urgent want of Laborers, and that Laborers shall never want well-paid employment.
Article VI.
That in the selection of Emigrants, an absolute preference be given to young persons, but that no excess of males be conveyed to the colony free of cost.
Article VII.
That Colonists providing a passage for emigrant Laborers, being young persons, and equal numbers of both sexes, be entitled to a payment in money from the Emigration Fund, equal to the actual contract price of a passage for so many laboring persons.
Article VIII.
That Grants be absolute in fee, without any condition whatever, and obtainable by deputy.
Article IX.
That any surplus of the proceeds of the tax upon rent and of sales, over what is required for Emigration, be employed in relief of other taxes, and for the general purposes of Colonial Government.
A Source Book of Australian History, 1919 |
