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Mr
Godfrey, 4 October 1876
'It
would enable honorary members to understand the reasons why extra
money was asked for this year, either for the improvement of Coranderrk
or the purpose of forming a new station elsewhere to which the
natives could be removed - not forcibly removed - but drafted
away . where they could be better managed and more beneficially
employed both for their own advantage and that of the colony generally.
The station was in a state of anarchy and the object of the Board
was to settle the confusion existing and bring about a more desirable
state of things... It
was that register of deaths furnished to him at that time, coupled
with the appearance of the place, that forced upon his mind the
conviction that Coranderrk was unsuitable as a residence for the
native race.
It
was about three months ago.Just about that time some of the natives
came to Melbourne. It had been represented to them that they were
about to be sent away from Coranderrk, and they came down to lay
their grievances before the Chief Secretary... The
Chief Medical Officer (Dr. McCrea) reported to the board that
most of the buildings on the station were not in a fit state for
habitation, and that the disease existing amongst the aborigines
was in a great measure attributable to that cause. It was therefore,
absolutely necessary to adopt one of three courses. If the blacks
were at Coranderrk, better buildings must be provided for them,
and the reserve fenced in. If they were not to be continued, then
the new station must be formed elsewhere; or they must be distributed
amongst the stations of the present existing throughout the colony.
The course proposed to be taken by the board was not to forcibly
remove these poor people, but to endeavour to remove some of them
- the young children more especially - either to a warmer climate,
or place them under the control of those who are better managers
of such work than any board could be. Some of the young half-castes
should also be encouraged to seek their own living in the outside
world, whilst others could be apprenticed to various trades amongst
their white brethren. If it was then found absolutely necessary
to keep a station at Coranderrk, it would be only for old and
infirm blacks, who had lived there for some time, and looked upon
it as their home.
As
to the management of Coranderrk, he did not hesitate to say that
it was as well managed, at present as any place of the kind could
be. It laboured, however, under the disadvantage of being too
close to the city, and, consequently, the blacks were exposed
to evil influences. It was a place that no native would ever dream
of going to, except in the heat of summer for a few days wallaby
hunting, or to get a little fishing.A colder winter or damper
climate could not be found in Victoria. A difficulty had, however,
arisen now in getting rid of the place, because it had been made,
to some extent, self-supporting through the cultivation of hops.
Some difficulty would also be experienced in distributing the
blacks in the future. There were some of the natives at Coranderrk
who were quite as intelligent as many members of that House. They
could read, write, and argue, and put forward their opinions on
various subjects in a most intelligent manner.The blacks at Coranderrk
were now beginning to fancy that they were not placed there for
their own benefit, and that it was intended that they should work,
at all events to some extent, for their living, but that it was
the duty of the State to support them. They had, however, everything
that was necessary for their comfort and civilisation, including
a good school master to teach them.Rumours had been circulating
to the effect that it was the desire of some members of the Board
to have the blacks removed from Coranderrk in order to obtain
possession of the station themselves.'
Mr
MacPherson,
4 October
'He
denied that Coranderrk was an unsuitable place of residence for
the blacks. It might be unsuitable for those who came from warmer
regions of the Murray, but the large majority of the aborigines
at Coranderrk were natives of the very district in which they
were now located. It was because it was a camping-place of the
blacks that Coranderrk was selected as an aboriginal station.'
Mr.
Macbain, 4 October 1876
'The
blacks at Coranderrk were for the most part natives of that district,
and were quite able to stand that climate as they were to stand
the climate of the Murray or any warmer region. He considered
that good might be done by providing for the half-caste children
away from Coranderrk and by obtaining employment on stations for
the able-bodied men, but he did not see the propriety of breaking
up the establishment. He believed that, under proper management
Coranderrk could yield sufficient produce to pay half the expense
of maintaining the whole of the blacks.'
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