QSA846786 1864 Letter from Charles Tom to Colonial Secretary 31 May, In letter 64_1767, Colonial Secretarys In Letters Part 1 DR62207

Brisbane

31 May 1864

To the Hon

The Colonial Secretary

Brisbane

Sir

I do myself the honor of addressing you respecting the conduct of the Native Police towards the blacks in the out-lying Districts.

I understand that the Officers of the N Police are directed by their superiors to disperse all large assemblages of the Aborigines and a regard for security makes it also necessary that the blacks shoud be kept out altogether from the new stations as the massacres of the whites have generally, if not invariably resulted from too close intimacy between the two races.

In effecting these two objects – the dispersion of large bodies of savages, and driving out those who cannot be otherwise kept at a safe distance from our stations

---- [right margin notes] Read & returned [initialled] DTS CP

[written under that] Acknowledge and inform Mr Tom that his suggestions will be considered. The Acting Commr. Police has also perused Mr Tom's letter [initialled] AWM

[under that] [signed] C. Tozer Esquire

17 June 64

the N Police are frequently obliged to commit murder by firing upon the innocent blacks, whose only crime, it often happens is the want of comprehension sufficient to enable them to understand what is required of them.

The only remedy which I can see is possible to adopt under such a deplorable necessity, and which I respectfully beg to suggest to the Government, – is the issuing of the Police with pieces that will carry either shot or bullet as required and directing that when no hostility is shown by the Blacks, only the smallest-sized shot should be used. This, I believe would frequently prevent murder from being committed, and would at the same time, facilitate the attainment of the object for which the Police are retained – security from the incursions of their countrymen. The scattering of the shot would occasion the chastisement to be widely felt, while its mildness would not be so likely to arouse those feelings of rancour which the taking of life so naturally calls into existence in the friends of the deceased.

On the other hand, many squatters upon whom the Blacks intrude, hesitate to incur the fearful responsibility of calling in the Police – dreading the adoption of the only alternative left to the choice of its officers, – choosing rather to bear with the intrusion, and take the chance of its results, though these are some times so fearful and so fatal.

Believing that the great importance and difficulty of this subject call for the earnest & early attention of the Government I have taken the liberty of thus directing your notice to the matter.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your Obedient Servant

[signed] Chas Tom