§ MR. A. PEASEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Government have any information as to the firing upon the Coolies by the military and police in Trinidad on October 30th, whereby twelve were killed, fivemortally wounded, and eighty-eight were wounded so that they had to be taken to the hospital?
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is true that a great slaughter of East Indians has occurred in Trinidad, in a collision with the police, about sixteen being killed and eighty-six wounded; whether the collision occurred in consequence of a new police regulation prohibiting the passage of a popular procession hitherto permitted; whether Indian labourers have recently been discontented, in consequence of an alteration in the scale of payment to them upon the plantations; whether they were under five-year contracts, made and attested in India and enforced by penal Laws, under the supervision of the Government; whether a change, to the disadvantage of those compelled contract labourers, and without their consent, was sanctioned by the Governor and Protector of Immigrants, or whether they took any measures to protect the Indians against such a breach of contract; and, whether a full inquiry will be made?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYFor many years the celebration of the Mohurrum Festival has been attended with more or less disturbance among the Coolies in Trinidad, collisions having taken place between the bands from different estates, resulting in bloodshed. In 1882 an Ordinance was passed, based on a British Guiana Ordinance, which, under similar circumstances, is said to have worked well, giving the Governor power to make regulations. In the earlier part of this year such regulations were issued by which the processions were forbidden to enter the towns of the Port of Spain or San Fernando, or to use any high road without special permission. It was fully 609 explained to the Indian population that the regulations were merely intended to preserve order, and in no way to interfere with the celebration of their religious festival. Notwithstanding this, the Coolies marched, on the 31st of October, in large numbers, estimated at 1,000, armed with hakka sticks and cutlasses, and attempted to force their way into the town of San Fernando. I may say that at the Port of Spain the regulations were attended to. The police were drawn up across the roads, 10 in one place and 20 in another, with a small number of soldiers behind them. The Coolies continuing to advance after having been repeatedly warned, the Riot Act was read by the magistrate present, and the police fired. Thirteen Coolies were killed, and 31 were taken into the hospital, out of a total of 102 killed and wounded. The Inspector-Superintendent of Police stated that they fired in self-defence; and in his opinion, and that of the officer commanding the troops, they would have been overwhelmed had they not done so. We are awaiting the results of the inquests which are being held as well as the Attorney General's opinion. But considering the great loss of life, the Secretary of State considers that an inquiry by an independent person will be desirable. We have no information of any discontent among the Coolies in consequence of alterations in the scale of payments to them. From a Table in the last Report of the Protector of Immigrants it appears that less than half the Coolies in Trinidad were under indentured contracts. I am not in a position either to affirm or deny that the conditions of the contracts have recently been more strictly enforced; but I cannot conceive that there is any possibility of any breach of contract having been sanctioned.
§ In reply to a further Question by Sir GEORGE CAMPBELL,
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYsaid, that the Coroner was a European. He could not, without Notice, say whether there would be a jury, and he could not say whether they would be European or not.