§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Government of India has, by Despatch of 22nd January, 1889, declared that the condition of the coolies in the Assam Tea Gardens is on the whole s it is factory, and that the working of Act 1 of 1882 is beneficial to immigrants; whether he is aware that the death-rate amongt Act labourers has been for the past six years very largely in excess of the death-rate prevailing amongst non-Act labourers, and was so reported by the Chief Commissioner of Assam in 1887; whether he is aware that since 1883 Act labourers have received a lower rate of wages than non-Act labourers; whether the average rate of wages in several districts in 1887 was reported for men at Rs.3 14 9 per month, and for women at Rs.2 14 0; and whether the Secretary of State will recommend the Government of India to make further inquiries as to the condition of Act labourers and free labourers in Assam?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe facts are as stated in the first four paragraphs of the question, and appear in Papers laid before Parliament last Session. The rates of wages, according to the last Report, are—For men, under the Act, Rs.4 6 6 per mensem; for men, not under the Act, Rs.4 112; for women, under the Act, Rs.3 10 0; and for women, not under the Act, Rs.3 10 6. 188 The Government of India has been for some time, under the direction of the Secretary of State, making the inquiries suggested.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the death-rate of late years amongst the Act labourers has been largely in excess of the death-rate prevailing amongst non-Act labourers, and if so, whether he considers that such a state of things is satisfactory?
§ SIR J. GORSTThat would involve an argumentative question, which it would be contrary to the ruling of Mr. Speaker to enter into.