§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Imperial Government controls the labour traffic in the islands of the Pacific for the supply of the Queensland plantations, and takes measures to prevent the forcible abduction of natives and other abuses; whether the Naval Officers, acting with the Western Pacific High Commission, have orders to safeguard the liberties of the natives; whether any regulations and instructions have been issued for the guidance of Her Majesty's Officers in that matter, and where they are to be found; and whether it is true that N. MacNeil, and other British subjects, convicted in the Qeeensland Courts of the murder of natives on the high seas, in the year 1884, and whoso death sentences were commuted to penal servitude for life, have since received a free pardon, and are now at large; if so, whether the pardon was given by the Government of Queensland, with the sanction and approval of the Secretary 1348 of State, or solely on the advice of the ColonialMinisters?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY or STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, EastToxtethIf the hon. Member will refer to the Pacific Islanders' Protection Acts, 1872 and 1875, I think he will find the information he requires. Instructions are, from time to time, sent to the Naval Officers, but these have not been published. The prisoners referred to have not received a free pardon, but their sentences have been remitted, and they are now at large. The remission was granted by the Governor of the colony, on the advice of his Ministers.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLDid the Secretary of State for the Colonies sanction the pardon?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI should have thought the hon. Member would have known that the Secretary for the Colonies had no power to interfere in the matter.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLAs this was a case of murder on the high seas was it not dealt with by the Imperial Court, and not by the local Queensland Court?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSNo, Sir.