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ll
• • • • Notwithstanding the source from which it has in part sprng ,
it is exceedi_ngly ·active and laborious and consequently prosperous .
and _again:
• • • • Fortunately for the colony such a number of free immigrants
of character and capital has arrived from the year 1822 to 1831
as to make a favorable impression upon and give a tone to society
productive of the very best results. 6
prisoners.
However , al groups of
Nevertheless, it was they for whom the colony was first settled
and Arthur was determined that it should continue to serve this purpose
irrespective of the wishes of the free settlers who were now in a position
to foresee a better future .
asignment was still in operation:
At the time of Hall's arrival, the system of
all persons transported to the colony,
\ithout reference to any previous circumstances whatever , were either placed
in the Public Service or were ass_igned to private individuals immediately on
arrival , accordi_ng to their qualifications.
Tho se who were ass
Public Service were lodged in the Prisoners ' Barracks and allotted tasks
accordng to their ab ility;
of thi group ;
by the Government.
mechanics and laborers formed a large section
in return for their labor , they were fed, clothed and lodged
permitted to live privately, receiv
Only clerks who were employed in Public Offices were
pounds a year , plus five pounds for clothng .
All prisoners in the employ
of the Crown were not permitted to spend any part of their time working for
themselves , nor to possess any property .
Those ass
individual lived under his roof and were fed and clothed;
they received no
\ages , were not allowed to work for themselves , nor permitted to go anywhere
without a pass .
The master, indeed, was completely responsible for their
health and welfare , receiving cheap labor in return .
Of course, such a
system was open to considerab le abuse, since much depended upon the
character both of the master and the asigned servant . In cases of abuse ,
the convict had the ight to appeal to a Police Magistrate and ultimately
to the Governor;
Government .
the master could always return the unwanted servant to the
No doubt, there were specific cases in which the as signed
servants were badly treated, as communities breed all types of masters .
But also , there were many instances in which assig
better off in Van Diemen's Land than they wou ld have been if they had
remained in ngland.
Women colonists , particularly, spoke of the devoted
6 GO 33/14 p. 444.