VI - THE INTRODUCTION OF COLOURED LABOUR INTO QUEENSLAND

Summary

Proposals to import coloured labour had been made in Queensland before its separation from New South Wales, and it will be remembered that a small number of Chinese were introduced into the Moreton Bay district and that a not very successful attempt was made to employ them as shepherds. The ostensible reason given for the demand for coloured labour was the heat of the climate, especially of the northern districts, and so far as it was due to this cause it was accentuated by the development of the cotton and sugar industries, which occurred immediately after the separation of the colony. But there were other and more potent reasons which induced the settlers of Moreton Bay to seek for coloured labour, in fact the sames reason as led them formerly to petition for convict labour. They looked to coloured or convict immigration to provide them with large numbers of men unencumbered by families, who would accept low wages and who could be bound for lengthy terms of service. It was the desire for convict labour which first led to the demand for separation from New South Wales, and which first led English statesmen to look kindly upon that demand. Before the actual separation could be made the Queensland settlers were compelled to give up the hope of obtaining convict labour, and they turned naturally to coloured labour as a substitute.