NSW Aboriginal Protection Board reports

Mr Harkness of the NSW Aboriginal Protection Board reports at the conference: the APB seeks to take care of Aboriginal people whether they be “full-blood”, “half-caste”, “octoroon” or “quadroons”. Our problem [of uplifting and absorbing Aboriginal people] is not so difficult as in the other states, except Victoria where it is almost negligible. We have 1,000 “full-bloods” and the number is diminishing. We have 10,000 “half-castes” and the number is rapidly increasing. We have 30 government mission stations in NSW. We do not wish to have the collateral growth of an untouchable population in Australia, like America. If we remain callous we shall undoubtedly see the black race vanish. (Native Welfare Conference, 1937, p13)