A White Australia 219 



the visitor to a sugar plantation will carry away 

 a recollection of the fervour they exhibit in the 

 singing of hymns of the Moody and Sankey order. 

 Among the objections taken to the measure 

 providing for the deportation of the Kanakas was 

 the possible danger to the civilised islander him- 

 self. It was contended that the labourers ran no 

 inconsiderable risk of being killed and eaten by 

 their savage island relatives. On this point, the 

 most reassuring testimony was obtained from the 

 missionaries working among the islands, than 

 whom no one is more competent to express an 

 opinion. Some of these gentlemen entertain the 

 hope that the return of the Queensland labourers 

 will have a good effect among the islands, and 

 that some agricultural development will take 

 place, resulting in the expansion of island pro- 

 sperity. In any event, the Australian Govern- 

 ment has charged itself with the responsibility of 

 transferring the Kanaka labourers to islands 

 where neither their lives nor their prosperity will 

 be in any danger. 



