Re: [OT] Bureau of Relocation

G'day guys,

 >Brian, you do have a point with your "it's cheaper to shoot 'em than
move
 >'em" comments, but assuming there's any kind of "human rights" groups
even
 >the uber-nations might shy from doing something that blatent.

This is exactly what motivated a lot of the penal colony stuff behind
the 
early fleets sent to Australia. If you dig a bit you'll find this whole 
"they only stole a loaf of bread" business is all just so much gumph. My

ancestor for instance was official sentenced to 8 years down here for 
stealing 21 pounds, he also happened to slit the guys throat in the 
process. What was really happening is there was increasing social
distaste 
at just hanging everybody, the judges in particular were feeling that 
strain, but people didn't want to see over crowded prison hulks in
everyday 
so they shipped them out of sight off to the colonies. Yes it is more of

Brian's push and pull, in this case the push was social attitude and the

pull was an 'apparently' cheap labour source at the other end (though it

actually cost a lot more than a free colonisation would after you paid
the 
guards, provided basic staples etc etc).

Cheers

Beth

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Elizabeth Fulton
c/o CSIRO Division of Marine Research
GPO Box 1538
HOBART
TASMANIA 7001
AUSTRALIA
Phone (03) 6232 5018 International +61 3 6232 5018
Fax 03 6232 5053 International +61 3 6232 5053

email: beth.fulton@marine.csiro.au