MR. GILPINasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether a day labourer (Indian) in the mountains is obliged to pay one pound for a licence to earn his living as a labourer; and, 1684 whether a sugar planter is subject to any licence on entering upon his business?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENIt is quite true, Sir, that under existing regulations the old immigrants in Mauritius—that is, those immigrants whose indentures have expired—are required to hold a licence, for which they pay £1 per annum. This is to insure identification and to check vagrancy. It is also true that sugar planters are not subject to any licence, being easily identified and not likely to become vagrants. I may, however, remind my hon. Friend that the whole subject of the condition of the Indian immigrants in Mauritius is now under the consideration of a Royal Commission, and that this point, with others, cannot fail to receive their special attention.