rnment at a cost of L20.10.0, or $90.42,
paid in installments: L2 or $9.60, paid on allottment, L2.2.0 or
$10.08 at the end of the first year, and L4.2.0 or $19.68 at the end
of each of the succeeding four years.

For the years 1891-1908 the cost of this system to the colony is
officially reported as follows:

Cost of importation L129,692.2.2 $622,522.12
Administrative expenses L 37,377.0.2 179,409.64
Return passages 1901-8 L 27,254.5.11 130,820.62
Gross cost L194,323.83 $932,752.38
Receipts in hand L143,171.1.1 $687,221.06
Net cost to colony L 51,152.7.2 $245,531.32

or an average of over L3,000 or $14,400 per annum.

The immigrants are indentured for five years, and are entitled after a
continuous residence of ten years in the colony to one half of the
value of their passage money in the case of men and of one third in
the case of women. For a working day of nine hours the men are paid
one shilling or 24 cents and the women nine pence or 18 cents. A
deduction of two shillings and sixpence or 60 cents a week is made
for rations supplied. They receive free hospital treatment which cost
the Government on the average of two pounds or $9.60 each per annum.

The system of immigration is a factor contributing to the present
unsatisfactory condition of the labor market in this island. The
immigrants are unfair competitors of the natives. They accept lower
wages, and they lower the standard of life. They are practically
modern slaves. It is not then reasonable with such competitors for the
native laborer to expect a favorable response to his appeal for fairer
treatment. It is asserted that the importation of East Indians is
necessary because the native laborers will not give that reliable and
continuous service which is necessary for the profitable working of
the estates. The answer to this is that these same laborers emigrate
and give their foreign employers the reliable and continuous service
which they consistently withhold from the employer at home because
they are paid more and treated better abroad.

The solution of the problem in so far as the first steps are concerned
is then two fold. First, the government must at once determine that
this systematic immigration of cheap labor must cease, and must set
about without delay to make the necessary arrangements and adjustments
which will be preparatory to an early d