§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he is aware that the following, among other provisions, exist in "The Inland Emigration Act, 1882;" that persons male and female of 16 years of age are held by this Act to be competent to make a contract, practically selling their liberty for a period of five years; that after a coolie has been registered he has no liberty to change his mind, but is liable to imprisonment if he refuses to proceed to or remain in the tea garden, to which he can be brought back on arrest without warrant; that the coolie, in many instances, may be transferred from one tea garden to another, without his consent; that in case of illness, if his absence from work is longer than 30 days, the time he is absent beyond the 30 days is added to the term of his contract; that a system of fines and imprisonment for absence from work, which may much exceed the amount of his wages, is imposed under the Act; whether the Government of India contemplate the amendment of any of these provisions; and, whether he is aware that, as a fact, the provisions of the Act for the protection of the coolie, whereby he ought to be individually examined as to his willingness to make the contract, before registration, and other protective provisions are often neglected?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The epitome which the hon. Member has made of Sections 11, 121, 142, 150, 162, 170, and 171 of the Act is not in all respects accurate. The Secretary of State is not aware of any Bill amending the Act being at present before the Legislative Council of India. The Secretary of State is not aware of the provi- 101 sions of the Act for the protection of the coolie being often neglected.