Report Title:
1871 Report of the Select Committee of the Legislative Council relative to the Aboriginal Natives

The 1871 Select Committee Report can viewed online at AIATSIS. The committee, drawn from the Members of the Legislative Council, consisted of Robert Walcott (Attorney-General), George Shenton, James Drummond, William Marmion, Maitland Brown, and John Monger.

The report reads:

The Committee recommend the passing of An Act relating to apprentices.

They also recommend that grants of land may be made to such Aboriginal Natives as are recommended by the Principal of any Native Industrial Institution, upon the following conditions:-

That no Aboriginal Native shall be permitted to sell, transfer, or let such land without the recommendation of the Principal of a Native Industrial Institution and the consent of the Governor.

The Governor to reserve the right to resume all grants of Aboriginal Natives should the grantees neglect to improve or cultivate the land so granted for three consecutive years.

R J Walcott
Chairman