§ SIR JOHN SIMEONsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been drawn to a statement that the demand for labour in Queensland has induced the Colonial Legislature to pass an Act which has led to the procuring from the South Sea Islands kidnapped slaves for the use of the Queensland planters; and whether, he is aware that a public meeting has been held at Sydney for the purpose of protesting against atrocities alleged to have been perpetrated under the aforesaid Colonial Legislation?
§ MR. MONSELLsaid, he could assure the hon. Gentleman it was perfectly erroneous to state that the Act referred to was passed by the Legislature of Queensland for the purpose of procuring slaves from the South Sea Islands. Immigration from the Polynesian Islands had been going on for some time, but a statement having reached the 575 Colonial Office that abuses had grown up, the Duke of Buckingham, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, sent a despatch to the Governor of Queensland, directing him immediately to have an Act introduced for the purpose of controlling that immigration. The principal points of that Act were defined to he that none but well-found ships should be employed; the prohibition of recruiting, except under non-transferable license from the Government; the approval of contracts of labour by the Colonial Immigration Agent; the immigrants when arrived were to be supervised by the local magistracy; and no contract was to be made for more than five years and the immigrants were required, under stringent conditions, to be sent back to their own country after the expiration of five years. But while that despatch was on its way, the Legislature of Queensland had themselves taken the matter in hand, and passed an Act to the same effect, but even more stringent, and that Act was now in operation. It was one not in any way calculated to facilitate evil practices, but on the contrary to diminish them. Her Majesty's present Government, however, upon seeing an account of the meeting at Sydney referred to by his hon. Friend, issued the most stringent directions to the Governor to take care that the Home Government was not misled, and that full information respecting the immigration into Queensland was sent home to this country. Serious attention was called to the matter in order that Her Majesty's Government might be in a position to vindicate the character of the colony, or to take such steps as might he necessary to put a stop to the immigration if need be.