HC Deb 17 May 1892 vol 4 cc1121-4
MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the statements by Mr. Hume Nisbet, that in 1886 a labour vessel came into the Mary borough River Deluged with blood and filled with wounded men, through a rising of the cargo on board"; and that violence and ravishments are perpetrated by the lawless crews of the labour vessels upon, the almost nude native women whom they convey to the labour plantations; whether he has seen Dr. Paton's statement made in 1889, that at a hospital on the Queensland plantations which he visited he found the patients to be nothing but native women and girls about to be confined in child bearing, and that many white children were borne by them; and that multitudes of native women died at the Queensland plantation hospitals from abuse on the plantations; had the Queensland Government anything but the bare word of the ship's agent and crew as to whether returned labourers were landed on their own islands and amongst their own people; and whether he has seen Dr. Paton's statement that in one case many had been landed on an island twenty miles from their home, while the ship's company declared they had fulfilled the conditions; and whether many natives were murdered through being placed amongst hostile tribes; whether it is true that the Commissioner of British New Guinea has forbidden the recruiting of Kanakas from the territory under his juristion; is he aware that on the islands of the New Hebrides from which these men were recruited twenty-three distinct languages are spoken, many of which are unknown to anyone but the natives, and that in consequence the conditions of their engagements could not have been explained to the natives; and whether in view of these facts, the Government still adhere to their decision to allow the Act to become law?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

In answer to the first and second paragraphs of the hon. Member's question, my attention has not been drawn to the statement made by Mr. H. Nisbet, nor have I seen that of Dr. Paton of 1889. The Secretary of State cannot accept these statements as correct without inquiry; but the attention of the Colonial Government shall be drawn to them, and they shall be asked to report. With regard to the third paragraph, the Queensland Government Agent is instructed to attend the vessel, and to see that the regulations are carried out. I believe it is a fact that some years ago returned labourers were occasionally landed in error upon other than their own islands. This arose from the difficulty of identifying the islands, which were then imperfectly known. I have not seen the statement of Dr. Paton referred to. As regards the fourth paragraph, the prohibition of recruiting Kanakas in New Guinea is contained in a New Guinea Ordinance of 1888, which was approved by the Queensland Government. In reply to the fifth paragraph, I am aware that there is a great diversity of languages in the islands, and considerable difficulty has, in the past, been experienced as regards interpretation; but this difficulty is diminishing, in consequence of the large number of labourers who have now been returned to their homes from Queensland and other places, and who are able to explain to their fellows the nature of the agreement they are entering into. As regards the last paragraph, I would call the hon. Member's attention to a letter from Bishop Selwyn, late Bishop of Melanesia, which appeared in the Guardian of 4th May of this year, in which he says— I cannot help feeling that the indiscriminate condemnation of the traffic which has been expressed is likely to do more harm than good. It was true of the traffic in its beginning. It is not true of the traffic as now conducted. I can add nothing further to the full statement I made yesterday.

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office is in possession of any Report from the Government of Queensland respecting the manner in which the Kanaka traffic has been carried on since 1886 under the Regulations at present in force; and whether he will lay such Report upon the Table?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

A Report has been issued annually since 1889 by the Queensland Immigration Department, and printed among the Sessional Papers every year. These Reports will be included in the Papers to be laid before Parliament.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us when he may have them?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

With the least possible delay. I cannot fix the date.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

Before the Vote on Account?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

I cannot fix the date; it is impossible.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Revised Regulations respecting the Kanaka labour traffic have been issued by the Government of Queensland; and whether he will lay a copy of these upon the Table, and also a copy of the Regulations they are intended to supersede?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

The existing Regulations will be included in the correspondence to be laid before Parliament; and the revised ones, if not received in time for that Paper, will be added in a supplementary one. A telegram has been sent requesting that copies may be sent home as soon as settled.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether it is not a fact that when he was asked a question on this subject he read a telegram to the House stating that these Revised Regulations were either issued or were about to be issued?

MR. WINTERBOTHAM (Gloucester, Cirencester)

Did I not understand the right hon. Gentleman yesterday to say that he had telegraphed that all these Revised Regulations should be sent by telegraph, and that they should not be sent by post?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

No, I did not promise that; I promised to telegraph for them. In reply to the previous question, I am not aware that these Revised Rules have yet been issued, or are in process of revision at this moment.

MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)

Perhaps it would clear up the matter if I asked the right hon. Gentleman the question whether I am right in understanding that there are two sets of Papers—first of all, Papers which he will lay immediately, and, secondly, those Regulations which he will lay when they arrive?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

Yes.

MR. BRYCE

And will the right hon. Gentleman also say when the Regulations leave Queensland, and when he expects them?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

I cannot say when they leave Queensland, or when they are likely to be here.

MR. BRYCE

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to inquire?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

I sent a telegram this morning on the subject.