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37
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precedent in civilized life, but which can, I think, be
equalty traced to the pervading and demoralizing influence of
the existing penal institutio . ns ; for the habi " t of suspicion
and violen t invective in rivate life speedily extends to
every other relation ....
In short1 Maconochie attributed all the evils of colonial society to the
assignment system.
He proposed its abolition and replacement by a system
under which all newly arrived convicts were to be placed in special camps
located in districts isolated from the general public, where, under the
superintendence of Government employed staff, they were to undergo their
prison sentence which was to be divided into two parts - a period of
punishment and ·a period of reform, in accordance with each prisoner's own
behaviour and desire for improvement .
Actually, Franklin could not see any justification for recommending
the abolition of asignment .
which he considered would be beneficial :
Instead, he sggested certain modifications
all convicts, before being
asigned, were to be coerced i gngs , kept separate from the present
punishmen gngs of criminals twice convicted, and placed under the
supervision of local. Government staff;
this measure would act as a
deterrent to all convicts , who, at the beginning of their servitude,
would be impartially dealt with and made to suffer the same punishments .
Moreover, the advanages of the domestic servants over the farm labourers
would be eliminated and convicts would have nothi_ng to boast home a pout
thei good conditions in the colony;
a better chance of findng employment . 5
free immigrants, too, would have
These proposals were favourably
received in London by the Co lonial Secretary, who forwarded instructions
to Franklin on July 6, 1838, to put them into effect immediately
irrespective of what chnges should be considered desirable concerning
transportation later.
or as domestic servants "was to be discontinued;
Ass .
ignment of convicts ''for the purpose of luxury"
ass_igned convicts were to
wear some disti.nguishi.ng ba_dge, and modifications were to be made to the
present system of Tickets-of-Leave. 6
However, before this despatch reached Hobart Town, the English
newspapers , arriving in September 1838, brought news which momentarily
shocked and ngered the colonists, including the Governor himself.
learned to their surprise and horror that Maconochie's report on convict
They
5
'
6
Summary of papers on Convict Discipline by A. Maconochie, The Sydney
Gazette, quoted by Tasmanian and Review, Nov. 9, 1838 .
GO 25/7 p. 185 .
GO 1/41 p. 101 .