|  |
| Larger Image (344.9 KB) |
| PARO Acc.2320/5-11 |
| Charlottetown Waterfront, ca. 1849 |
| |
The arrival of so many sick and destitute immigrants into North America placed a considerable burden on the provincial authorities charged with caring for them. In response to growing concerns from both sides of the Atlantic, the Colonial Government urged provincial councils to adopt legislation that it hoped would alleviate the problem. The Emigrant Tax Act was passed by the Prince Edward Island Legislative Council on April 5th 1848. Under the provisions of the law, any vessel placed in quarantine for a period of five days or more would have to pay double the normal rate of tax, or "head duty", for each emigrant on board. This act ensured that it was in the best interest of the owners and masters of vessels to discourage the travel of sick emigrants, and also provided the Island government with a fund to defray the cost of medical aid and other financial support should the need arise.
Image number 11 of 13 | | Next>>> | | Previous<<< |
|
| Return to Exhibit Listings |
|
| To see more of the images from this and other collections visit the Public Archives and Records Office, Atlantic Technology Centre (ATC), 176 Great George Street, Suite L20, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. | For more information about the Public Archives and its holdings, please visit princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/libraries-and-archives.
|
|
