SIR GILBERT PARKERI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if under Article 33 of the New Hebrides Convention, women and children, natives of the New Hebrides, may be indentured and sent to New Caledonia; if so, is the nature of their employment clearly defined at the time of engagement; and whether the British Commissioner has any direct responsibility in the recruiting of such women and children for New Caledonia, or any power of revision of the conditions under which they are recruited and employed.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe French Government remain under the Convention, as heretofore, solely and entirely responsible for recruiting in the New Hebrides for service in New Caledonia. The New Hebrides are islands which have never been annexed by any Power; the natives are not British subjects or French citizens. Consequently no Power has had any right to interfere with the recruiting operations of other persons than its own nationals. The French Government have, therefore, been solely responsible for the recruiting for New Caledonia (which has gone on for years past) exactly as His Majesty's Government have been solely responsible for recruiting for Fiji. This position could not, of course, be altered, even if it were considered desirable, without the consent of the French Government, which had and has equal rights in the New Hebrides with His Majesty's Government. It remains unaltered under the recent Convention. Licences to recruit for New Caledonia will be issued by the French representatives; the operations of the recruiters will be supervised by French officials; and when the labourer arrives in New Caledonia he will, of course, be subject to French law. This is the system which has been in force for years; and, from what I have said, it will be gathered that His Majesty's Government had and have no responsibility for its 301 working nor any power to assume such responsibility if they desired it, any more than the French Government have any responsibility for or control over the British recruiting for Fiji. The Answer to the specific Questions of the hon. Member are therefore as follows; to the first in the affirmative, but I understand that the French Government contemplate prohibiting the recruiting of women and children for service in New Caledonia, unless accompanying the head of the family; to the second, that it is a matter for the French Government; to the third and fourth, in the negative.
SIR GILBERT PARKERThen am I to gather that other countries besides France and England will be permitted to recruit natives for any territories they may think desirable?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThat point is not raised by the Question, and I should like to have notice before answering it.