§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the recent Papers showing the ill-treatment of Indian Coolies in Grenada, Whether he proposes to take any measures more radical than the supercession of the recently appointed Protector of Emigrants, who, after some delay, brought these things to light; whether, especially, he intends to institute any independent inquiry into the state of things previously existing in the Colony, the treatment of the Coolies who arrived before the Hermione cargo, and the system under which such treatment as that of the Hermione Coolies became possible; whether the recent Papers have been communicated to the Government of India; and, whether he has supported the recommendation of the present administrator, that the importation of Coolies into Grenada should still be permitted?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI trust that it may be possible to prevent the recurrence of such abuses as have recently happened in Grenada by other changes in the system, as well as by the appointment of a new Protector of Immigrants; and on this question I may say that a new Immigration Bill, founded upon British Guiana legislation, has been prepared in the Colony, has been carefully revised in the Colonial Office, and has been returned to Grenada for enactment. I think there is scarcely ground for the inquiry suggested by the hon. Member. On the 31st of December, 1877, there were only 397 Coolies in the Colony, none having been introduced between 1871 and 1878, in which latter year the Coolies were brought, whose treatment has been referred to. No complaint has been made in connection with Coolies introduced before 1878; and as to those then introduced, it is but fair to state that the season of 1878 was an exceptionally unhealthy one in the Island, and that many public officers were laid up at the time with fever, and some persons died, whose names have been much mentioned in connection with the matter. As the Papers on the subject were published, I did not think it necessary that they should be specially communicated to the Government of India. No application has been received 1028 by me for immigrants to Grenada for the season 1878–9, just expired, or for the season 1879–80. But before arriving at a decision which might be so injurious to the Island as a refusal to permit any further immigration there, I think it would be but fair to see whether the changes to which I have referred will not be sufficient to prevent the recurrence of any further abuses.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLI will take the earliest possible opportunity of calling attention to the subject, and will move—
That the present system of exporting Natives of India under indenture to the Colonies should not be continued until the House is satisfied that radical changes have been made in the means afforded for their protection.