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IN-LETTER 5091/1896 C.
W. Craig
96 . 2596 Town.
[Stamp] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE . QUEENSLAND 05091 16 . APR . 96
Col Secy [Stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 04360. QUEENSLAND 18 . APR . 96
Drawing attention to treatment of Blacks by the Cardwell Native Police.
[Stamp] INSPECTOR OF POLICE E 490 . 96 9 . 5 . 96 TOWNSVILLE.
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Niagara Vale Cardwell 4th. April 1896.
The Hon. The Colonial Secretary Brisbane.
[Margin] W
W.Craig 17.4.96/2206.
Ack. and say the matter has been referred to the Commr. of Police for inquiry. WHD[?] 16.4.96.
[Stamp] B. C. 18.4.96 No. 2106 Returned.
The Commissioner of Police.
Sir,
I respectfully draw your attention to the treatment the remnants of the aboriginals left in this district are receiving at the hands of the Cardwell Native Police. Though they have not killed cattle for years and there is no such thing as a bush mob, and they have all been employed for years and are now employed by settlers, and can be as easily arrested and punished as any white man in the district if they com - mit any petty depredation, which is the only ones they are usually accused of. Yet they are as terrorised by the fate of some of their companions who have disappeared (and it is sufficient for me to say here, that in the case of two at least the cause will not bear investigation, or could be justified if we were savages, in - stead of being amenable to law) that they will not go hunting now but gather round the houses of the friendliest settlers to starve although there are miles and miles of scrub un - occupied by any white man, where they can get a fair living. Besides this the actions of the Native Police has prac - tically given a license and made bolder the kidnappers
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IN-LETTER 5091/1896 C.
W. Craig
96 . 2596 Town.
[Stamp] COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE . QUEENSLAND 05091 16 . APR . 96
Col Secy [Stamp] COMMISSIONER OF POLICE 04360. QUEENSLAND 18 . APR . 96
Drawing attention to treatment of Blacks by the Cardwell Native Police.
[Stamp] INSPECTOR OF POLICE E 490 . 96 9 . 5 . 96 TOWNSVILLE.
(2)
of their women and children and they see a ready tool for their designs by trumping up charges that they are not asked to prove against husbands or fathers or other relatives of the children or women they employ or live with if their natural affection or detestation of themselves should tempt their unfortunates to leave them. Surely if Native Police are necessary their officer should be a protector of the innocent as well as punisher of the guilty, and not terrorise or allow others to terrorise and wrong the well behaved. I have written the above without predjudice [sic] and with the only object of saving the innocent, and if information I have received is correct action will have to be prompt to prevent as dastardly an act as ever was conceived. I have the Honor to be Sir Your obdt servt William Craig