Convict Guide - published 2006 - Manual / Resource - Page 28
Guide to New South Wales State archives relating to convicts and convict administration
Advantages of
assignment
Assignment benefited government and private employers alike – the
former was relieved of the cost of maintaining transportees while the
latter were provided with relatively cheap labour. (Clark, Select
Documents, vol. 1, p.130)
Treatment of
convicts by private
employers
The assignment system was far from uniform in its operation.
Benevolent, wealthy employers usually treated their convict workers
well and gave them the opportunity to improve their position and
develop the skills needed to begin a new life. Such settlers commonly
offered additional incentives such as extra rations, improved
accommodation and wages, in order to keep the services of the best
men.
By no means did all of the wealthy settlers treat their servants well and
some were noted for being harsh. The same mixture was to be found
among small employers who were themselves often former convicts and
lacking in means. They were known to have provided their workers with
only the bare minimum of food and shelter and paid for their labour in
goods that were of limited use.
Problems with the
assignment system
Such variations pointed to major defects in the assignment system,
which was by no means easy to administer given that many of the
settlers lived in isolated areas. Complaints were also made of injustices
in the actual distribution of labour with some settlers being favoured at
the expense of others. As the demand for assigned labour grew these
inequities became more apparent and contentious.
Tighter control of
the system
Following Governor Macquarie's departure and acting upon the
recommendations of Commissioner Bigge, successive governors brought
the assignment system under closer supervision and endeavoured to
redress some of its most glaring imbalances.
Establishment of the
Assignment Board
In 1826 Governor Darling set up an Assignment Board to which all
applications for convicts had to be sent. Instructions were given to
reject potential employers with a reputation for excessive indulgence or
cruelty. (Hirst, Convict Society, pp.83, 89, Fletcher, Ralph Darling,
pp.93ff). The number of convict clerks working in sensitive areas was
reduced and convicts themselves were more frequently withdrawn from
abusive work situations. The regulations governing applications for
convict labour and the way in which convicts were employed were
further tightened by Governor Bourke.
Responsibility for
Managing convicts
While the Principal Superintendent of Convicts overlooked convict
management in general, day-to-day management prior to 1826 was the
responsibility of the Chief Engineer.
A major re-organisation took place between 1826 and 1828 when the
distribution of convicts was placed under a Board appointed by Governor
Darling. (Fletcher, Ralph Darling, pp.93ff, McMartin, Public Servants and
Patronage, pp.143ff). The Principal Superintendent of Convicts
continued to handle detailed administration and correspondence.
A new Board was created in December 1831 and this, in turn was
replaced by the Commissioner for the Assignment of Convict Servants in
June 1836. The office of Commissioner was abolished on 1 February
1842.
Abolition of
cessation of private
assignment
Despite all efforts to improve convict management and redress obvious
inequities the assignment system continued to come under fire.
Following the highly critical report of the Molesworth Committee
assignment to private service ceased on 1 July 1841.
State Records Authority of New South Wales
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