§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he can say whether a pamphlet purporting to contain the speech of Sir Harry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, in moving the Second Reading of the Chinese Restriction Bill, and a preface by that gentleman, is genuine; whether he has noticed that Sir Harry Parkes used the following words in his speech, and set them forth again in his preface:—
Neither for Her Majesty's ships of war, nor for Her Majesty's Representative on the spot, nor for the Secretary of State for the Colonies, do we intend to turn aside from our purpose, which is to terminate the landing of Chinese on these shores for ever, except under the restrictions imposed by the Bill, which will amount, and are intended to amount, to practical prohibition;also, that Sir Harry Parkes distinctly avowed that—The Government had been acting illegally in refusing to allow the Chinese to land;whether the Bill so proposed was passed, and contained an indemnity for the illegal acts committed by the New South Wales Government; whether the Act so passed has been assented to by the Governor, acting for Her Majesty, not being reserved for Her Majesty's pleasure; and, whether the Secretary of State satisfied himself that the refusal to allow the Chinese to land in New South Wales and the provisions of the Bill are in accordance with Her Majesty's Treaties with the Emperor of China, and with our amicable relations with that Power, before he allowed the Governor to give the Queen's Assent to the Act?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)(who replied) said: The Secretary of State has no reason to doubt the authenticity of the pamphlet referred to by the hon. Member; and 74 he has seen the two statements quoted, which are explained in the preface. The Bill has passed, and is understood to contain a clause preserving to any person who feels aggrieved the right of redress for losses in Courts of Law, but indemnifying the Members of the Ministry personally. The Bill has been assented to, but without prejudice to Her Majesty's power of disallowance should its provisions be found inadmissible. The Act has not yet been received; but its provisions will be carefully considered. I may add that laws imposing restrictions on Chinese immigration have been in force for many years in the Australian Colonies.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)gave Notice that he would call attention to the subject on the second reading of the Imperial Defence Bill.