§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the case of children or young females being recruited as indentured labourers under the New Hebrides Convention, they shall only be so recruited when accompanied by their parents, from whom they shall not be separated.
I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the case of married women being recruited under the New Hebrides Convention as indentured labourers, they shall only be so recruited when accompanied by their husbands, from whom they shall not be separated.
§ MR. CHURCHILLOwing to the fact that natives of the New Hebrides have three or four wives, who are exchanged whenever it pleases the men to do so, there are difficulties in the way of adopting the hon. and gallant Member's suggestions as they stand. No doubt these difficulties were felt by the Conservative Government which in 1888 passed the Ordinance under which females between the ages of twelve and forty may be recruited from the New Hebrides for service in Fiji without any restriction 786 but their own consent. His Majesty's Government are, however, considering whether any licences issued to British vessels should not altogether forbid the recruiting of females for service outside the group. I have already explained that the limit of height under Article XXXIII (2) of the recent Convention will be so fixed as to exclude the employment of children of tender years.
SIR GILBERT PARKERWill the restriction of which the right hon. Gentleman speaks affect also the importation or exportation of children to New Caledonia?
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Gentleman had followed my Answer he would have heard that the Government are considering whether any licences issued to British vessels shall not altogether forbid the recruiting of females for service outside the group.
§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)Will that restriction involve an alteration of the text of the Convention?
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. The licences which have to be issued under the Convention can be withheld at the discretion of the officer in charge.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)Will French vessels be allowed to carry them?
§ MR. CHURCHILLsaid the British Government only dealt with the affairs of the British Empire, affairs which concerned British people and people who came under its authority.
SIR GILBERT PARKERAre we to understand that the Government has not a joint responsibility with the French Government for the exportation of labour in any portion of the South Seas?
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir; but notice should be given of questions in regard to matters of legal difficulty, complicated by our relations to another Power.