§ MR. CROPPERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's High Commissioner in the Pacific has made any specific allegations, against Queensland labour vessels, of complicity in kidnapping or other outrages in the South Seas; and, whether he has complained of the inadequacy of the means placed at his disposal for the detection and punishment of such outrages?
§ MR. METGEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the terrible state of affairs in Northern Queensland as described by Mr. Wisher in the current number of the "Fortnightly Review," and further noticed by the "Pall Mall Gazette" for Saturday last; to the process of colonisation by massacre carried on by English pioneers of civilisation; the system of labour traffic, "little better than organised slavery;" the ruthless and brutal murders committed on the native population; the wholesale violation of the native women; a brutal crusade openly and deliberately preached by the newspapers of the North; and, whether he could take any steps to prevent the slavery and extermination of the Aborigines of the Antipodes?
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to the prevalence of a system of impressing South Sea Islanders as "indentured voluntary labourers" in Australia, which is stated to be practically identical with most cruel slavery; whether the indentured labourers are in many cases kid- 31 napped from their native islands; whether the remuneration due to them under their "contracts" is only paid on the termination of the same, and whether, in the case of the death of a labourer previous to the termination of a "contract," his employer saves the amount of his wages for the term of years; whether this practice acts as a premium upon working the "indentured labourers" to death within the term for which they would otherwise be paid; and, what steps he intends to take in reference to the matter?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, I regret that it is impossible, within the compass of an Answer to a Question, adequately to treat the series of complicated subjects contained in the three Questions of the hon. Members. I only mention this, in order that, if I pass quickly over many points, it may not be supposed that the Colonial Department view with any indifference the painful and pressing matters involved. I have seen the Paper referred to in the Question of the hon. Member for Meath (Mr. Metge). There is much that is true, although official information does not bear out by any means to the full extent the statements made. The Paper and the Questions embrace three different subjects of inquiry—(1), the treatment of the aborigines in Queensland; (2), the recruiting of labourers in Polynesia; (3), their treatment when brought to Queensland. As to the first and third, I would remark that their regulation rests with the Government of Queensland; but Her Majesty's Government have been constantly in communication with the Colonial Government, urging them to take and strengthen measures for the protection of the natives. The local instructions to the coloured police, who are in the Paper referred to credited with a great amount of the outrages, are to the effect that they should—
As much as possible avoid collision with the aborigines, and pursue generally such a line of conduct as will convince them that, although punishment for depredations committed will surely and quickly follow, to live peaceably with the settlers will always insure their protection.With reference to the evils, gross and crying, which have in the past arisen from the mode of payment of wages indicated in the Question of the hon. Member for Dungarvan (Mr. O'Donnell,) I am happy to state that Section 21 of 32 the Queensland Pacific Island Labourers' Act of 1880 provides that the wages of every labourer shall be paid at the expiration of each six months of his engagement. If this is observed many of the abuses referred to will be stopped. In Fiji almost all abuses are absent, owing to the action of Her Majesty's Government. As to the recruiting of labourers by labour ships in Polynesia, Her Majesty's High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Gordon, has not made any specific allegation against Queensland labour vessels; but he has complained of the inadequacy of the means placed at his disposal for the repression of these outrages, and the Colonial Office are only awaiting his arrival in this country, which is very shortly expected, to confer with him and settle what new or further measures shall be adopted.
§ MR. METGEwished to know whether Queensland was not a Crown Colony, and, therefore, under the control of Her Majesty?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYNo, Sir.