222 THE QUEENSLAND LABOR TRADE. 
of the Banks Islands, and to make it worse women had been taken 
as well as men, thus opening up an infinite possibility of wrong-doing 
and confusion. 
Queensland had legislated in 1868, by the “‘ Polynesia. laborers act,” 
with a view to prevent kidnapping, and the shipmasters had to enter 
into a bond of £500 that they would observe the provisions of the act. 
Also, the employers of labor entered into a bond of £10 per laborer to 
provide for return passages; this amount was afterwards lowered to £5. 
The act of 1868 also provided a form which was to be read in the pres- 
ence of any natives who desired to recruit and was to be signed by the 
resident missionary of the place, or by a European resident or a chief 
interpreter, to the effect that the native was recruited for a term of 
3 years or 39 moons with wages at £6 per annum and with clothes and 
rations provided, and with supervision by the Queensland government 
in his sphere of labor. Nothing is stated in this act about the official 
government agent who accompanied the ship to supervise the recruit- 
ing, although both the Queensland and the Fijian ships seem to have 
carried them then. ‘The Queensland act of 1880 provides for the due 
appointment of fit and proper persons to be government agents to 
accompany the recruiting vessels. 
The Imperial Government, in the “Pacific Islanders protection 
act’’ of 1872, definitely provided against any repetition of the Daphne 
case, wherein naval officers had been sued for damages, by ordering 
that no officer or local authority should be held responsible, either 
civilly or criminally, in respect of the seizure or detention of any vessel 
suspected of kidnapping, and the act of 1875 provided for the appoint- 
ment of a high commissioner for the Pacific. 
In the act of 1884 a set of regulations was laid down for the trade 
which might be regarded as ideal; firearms and drink were not to be 
supplied to the natives; only such firearms were to be carried as were 
required for the ship’s use; the ships were to be painted a distinguishing 
color, light slate with a black streak 6 inches wide running fore and aft, 
and were to carry a black ball at the masthead when recruiting. All 
laborers were to be recruited in the presence of the government agent, 
and two Europeans, not counting the agent, were to accompany every 
boat when ashore recruiting. If an islander deserted after being 
recruited he was not to be taken by force or intimidated. Women 
were not to be taken without their husbands or without the consent 
of their chiefs. All interpreters employed 1 in the trade were to be paid 
fixed wages and all bonuses and commissions thus ceased. All laborers 
returned were to be landed at their own “ passages’’ unless they them- 
selves expressly desired to be landed elsewhere. The government 
agent was given very summary powers, and if the regulations were 
faithfully carried out the recruiting would be unexceptionable. 
