222 



incomplete ; the tramways, feeders, and roads re- 

 quired to bring- the great lines of Railway into 

 profitable operation ; and the vast works of irrigation 

 which were being 1 undertaken with the object of 

 fertilizing' and enriching 1 the country; when they 

 knew that all these great enterprises were not looming 

 in the distance, but were already in progress, he (Mr. 

 Ellis) confessed that he thought they should view 

 any increase in the number of emigrants, and any 

 measures which, like the present Bill, have a tendency 

 to encourage emigration, as matters of regret, and 

 as a serious evil." 



It is extremely refreshing to find a tone so healthy 

 pervading the debates of a Council the members of 

 which at one time it was thought were doomed to 

 be dummies. From such constitutional proceedings 

 as this debate records, evincing as they do respect 

 for the wishes of the Supreme Authority, with an 

 honourable and conscientious resolve faithfully to 

 discharge the sacred trust with which members are 

 invested, the public can augur nothing but the 

 strengthening of the power of the Executive, and the 

 welfare of the country. It will remain for Her 

 Majesty's Government to decide the points which 

 seem to be disputed in India viz., whether the 

 direction of future legislation in regard to the popu- 

 lation of India, is to be for the benefit of India 

 herself, or for the benefit of British and foreign 

 Colonies and whether the existing anomaly shall 

 continue, of the Indian labourer being* prohibited by 



