Samuel Sidney

“ Whilst it is obviously but just that the immigrant who is likely to benefit so largely by being brought to this colony at the public expense, should be compelled to refund this stipulated amount to the public treasury on the one hand, it has been deemed equitable on the other hand, first, that he should be allowed on his arrival to repay (if he can) his passage-money; second, that for a certain short period after his arrival here (to be fixed by public regulation) he shall be permitted to choose his employer, so as to enable him to obtain the current rate of wages ”

“ III.—The immigration agent for the time being, or any person deputed by him for that purpose, with the approbation of the governor, shall have authority, with or without the consent of any such immigrant, not so paying his or her passage-money, or any balance due therefor, to make and sign in his or her name, and on his or her behalf, a contract of service with any competent employer for the term of two years, to be computed from the day on which such contract is made and signed, by an agreement in the form or to the effect in Schedule B to this Act appended ”

“ The emigrants of the enumerated classes, and to whom your committee recommend that passages should be furnished under the foregoing stipulations as to indenture and repayment, are as follows:—
No payment will be required for the wives of persons of the above classes, or any of their children who may be under the age of 14 years; all children above that age must be paid for as statute adults. ”

“ Provided that no emigrant of the class of country mechanics shall be required or bound to pay more than the sum of fifteen pounds sterling for his passage, inclusive of any deposit made by him in the United Kingdom under any regulation then in force, and that no other class of emigrants shall be required or bound to pay more than the sum of thirteen pounds sterling for his or her said passage, inclusive as aforesaid. ”

“ IV.—Every immigrant serving an employer under any such contract, may, at any time after the expiration of the first year, cancel the same, by giving such employer three calendar months' notice thereof, in writing, and by paying such employer the amount of money then remaining due for his or her passage. ”

“ It is considered that this amount ought to be repaid by all statute adults, that is, by all persons above fourteen years of age, because they can earn wages which will enable them to repay without difficulty ”