Protector of Aborigines (York), 1841–1848 Walkinshaw Cowan, Protector of Aborigines (York), 1848–1858 Thomas Newte Yule, Acting Protector of Aborigines (York), 1855 The two Protector roles were abolished at the end of 1858 because it was thought that there was then good concord between the Aborigines and the Europeans of the colony. In particular, the Europeans were now making less complaints. In 1882, the concerns of people like John Gribble led to the WA Government commissioning the Fairburn Report into the welfare of Aborigines. This revealed slavery of Aborigines on European-run farms and other abuses. The Aborigines Protection Act 1886 was passed in response. It made it illegal for employers to employ an Aborigine with there being an independently witnessed written contract. The contract could be no longer than 12 months. It also required employers to provide these contracted employees with food, clothing, blankets and annual leave. But there was no requirement for monetary payment. The act also aimed to greatly increase government control over the lives of Aborigines, particularly those deemed to be "half-castes". The Aborigines Protection Board was established in 1887 to achieve the act's aims. The board employed a number of local protectors across the state to afford protection. The Aborigines Act 1889 made further changes. Malcolm Fraser, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1887–1891 Octavius Burt, Acting Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1890 Tim Hooley, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1891–1892 George Walpole Leake, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1892–1896 Dr Alfred Waylen, Chairman of the Aborigines Protection Board, 1896–1898 The Aborigines Act 1897 replaced the board with a new Chief Protector of Aborigines and the Aborigines Department from 1 April 1898. The department was given further powers by the Aborigines Act 1905. The Chief Protector was the legal guardian of every Aboriginal child in Western Australia to the age of 16 years with the power to remove Aboriginal children from their families and place them in Homes or in "service" (work). The Moseley Royal Commission was set up in 1934 to examine proposals to extend the powers of the Chief Protector, and the policy of removal of children from their parents. Agitation by critics, and the resulting media coverage in London, and locally, had drawn attention to the welfare of Aborigines in the state. A series of submissions detailed accusations of child slavery, abuse and mistreatment, and evidence was given by mothers of