Post Councils

• What were some difficulties in maintaining order Rupertsland?

  Some difficulties in maintaining order in Rupertsland were:

  • Distance from the British legal system.
  • Single men isolated in small groups away from friends and family. They were usually locked into contracts of 7 - 9 years.
  • Employees faced harsh physical environment and inherent dangers of living in the wilderness. They were expected to work effectively and efficiently to maximise profits.
  • These factors led to disobedience and insubordination.
• What are some examples of employee indiscretions?

  Some examples of employee indiscretions are:

  • Unauthorised private trade by employees.
  • Employee theft.
  • Spreading rumours and gossiping.
  • Drukenness.
  • Insubordination.
  • Fighting.
  • Fraternising with Indigenous peoples (including women).
• How were employee indiscretions dealt?

  Employee indiscretions were dealt by:

  • Employees required to swear an oath of loyalty to the company.
  • The threat of forfeiture of their goods and wages.
  • The style of governance imposed on employees ranged between officers. These included corporal punishment techniques such as irons and lashes.
• What ways were Bayside governers unsuccessful in controlling the behaviours of employees?

  The ways that Bayside governers were unsuccessful in controlling the behaviours of their employees were:

  • They could never completely eradicate employee theft
  • Could not keep them from taking country wives – Indigenous women. The children of these relationships were termed half breeds and became employees.