|
RESEARCHED BY PETER KILLACKEY
|
A part of Bigge's brief was to report on the future of trade and agriculture for the settlement. On January 7th, 1820, he sent a circular to seventy of the largest land holders requesteing their views on how convicts should be employed. He received twenty replies. Not suprisingly they recommended agricultural and pastoral occupations as the best methos of employing and reforming convicts.
To Bigge's question of what kind of labor was most beneficial to the agricultural interests in New South Wales and best adopted to its soils and climate, the replies varied immensely. Some like Bell, said in the employment of flax, hemp and tobacco; others like Lawson, said in growing maize, barley and hops for the manufacture of spirits and beer; Lowe, Howe, MArsden and John Mcarthur advocated convicts working as shephards in the production of fine wool.
Of these twenty, four were also interviewed personally by Bigge about the type of agriculture best suited for the settlement; Best, Blaxland, John Oxley, and Archibald Bell. It was Bell who presented the case for hemp;
The present mode of farming here seems not to deserve the name of a system. Wheat and maize are indeed almost the only crops raised, this arises in the market for any other produce
...first, public encouragement should be given to the growth of flax and hemp, the rich land on the banks of the Hawksebury and Napean are capable of producing as we know by experience, the most luxuriant crops, the manufacture of which would afford fit employment for female convicts and lame men.
...the propriety of cultivating hemp and flax seems strongly pointed out to notice, as in curing and preparing of so many hands wopuld be required, and would thus ensure for female convicts, (and also lame and infirm old men now are burthen to the crown) a consideration as it respects the female particular of no small importance to the well being of morality.
Archibald Bell's views were echoed by Provost Marshall John Cambell in a letter to the new Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane on February 12th 1822.
|
|