HC Deb 26 May 1892 vol 4 cc1887-90
MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a letter from Admiral Erskine on the Polynesian labour traffic, which appeared in the Times of Saturday last, stating, as the result of three years' experience in command of the Australian Squadron, that— Even under the most stringent regulations wrongs and abuses occur in connection with the labour traffic, which invariably lead to bloodshed and accompanying complications and reprisals"; and whether, in view of the statement made by Admiral Erskine that, under the terms of the protectorate which he was authorised to promulgate, It was declared that the natives of New Guinea should not be taken from their country and compelled, under arrangements and contracts which they cannot possibly understand, to labour continuously for three years on Queensland plantations, the Government are taking any measures to protect the natives of New Guinea from being imported into Queensland?

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. DE WORMS,) Liverpool, East Toxteth

My attention has been drawn to the letter referred to by the hon. Member. It will be observed that the very valuable experiences of Admiral Erskine were confined to a period during which the irregularities connected with the labour traffic have been admitted. If the hon. Member will refer to page 210 of the Parliamentary Paper C, 5091–1, Vol. 2, he will see that— No deportation of natives is allowed either from one part of the territory to another, or to places beyond the territory, except under ordinances reserved for Her Majesty's assent and assented to by Her Majesty. The removal of natives from the island is prohibited by a law passed in Queensland in 1887 as well as by a law passed in New Guinea in 1888. The latter will be found at page 234 of the Parliamentary Paper C, 5883.

MR. S. SMITH

In connection with that answer, may I ask whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman has been drawn to a letter by Admiral Scott, the present commander of the Pacific, in which he expresses his regret at the proposal to introduce this labour traffic from that Colony into the country, no power being given for looking after the interests of the natives?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

I think the Admiral is in error. I have already said that the natives cannot be sent from New Guinea to Queensland.

MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)

What I want to know is whether, as a matter of fact, it is true that numbers of black people are at this moment being recruited from New Guinea, and also whether Her Majesty's Government have informed themselves that Clause 78 of the new Act of the Queensland Legislature requires that an armed boat should accompany the recruiting parties to the various islands?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

I was not aware that recruiting is now going on in New Guinea. In fact, I have said that it is not going on. I do not think that the second part of the question arises out of the question on the Paper. An armed boat is required to accompany the recruiting parties for the purpose of protection.

MR. S. SMITH

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies question No. 11, and perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to modify it in the following manner: Whether he is aware that the Legislative Assembly of Melbourne passed a Resolution yesterday, without a dissentient voice, condemning the action of the Queensland Parliament in proposing to renew the importation of Kanaka labourers into the colony, and urging the Government to resort to all the means in their power to render the protest of the Legislative Assembly of Melbourne effective; and whether Her Majesty's Government will re-consider their intention of not disallowing the Act of the Queensland Legislature?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

The attention of Her Majesty's Government has not been officially drawn to the notice referred to, and to the resolution which it would appear, from a telegram in this morning's Times, has been carried; but the hon. Member will see that the question raised by that resolution is one which, however important, must be settled by these great colonies among themselves without the intervention of Her Majesty's Government. It may also be observed that this resolution is not framed against native employment on humanitarian grounds, but is against all foreign labour, coolie or native.

MR. S. SMITH

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in connection with that answer, whether the Australian Colonies possess any means of preventing Queensland from renewing this labour traffic except through the intervention of the Home Government?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

Certainly not. I am sure the hon. Member will see that a resolution passed by the Victorian Parliament could not—although, of course, it would be treated with all respect — influence Her Majesty's Government in the direction of not assenting to a Bill passed in Queensland.

MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM

As this case involves, in the opinion of many, gross barbarities and a large quantity of bloodshed among these islanders, I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this House or the Government has any power to veto—or has got any means of signifying their displeasure, should that be the pleasure of the House—this Act being put in force?

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office has in its possession the figures of the number of Polynesian Islanders landed in Queensland during each of the years 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, and 1890; the percentage of deaths among the islanders working on the plantations during each of those years; and the numbers returned to the Islands during each of those years; and, in that case, will he state them to the House?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

The numbers of those landed and returned are as follows:—Landed: 1886, 1,505; 1887, 1,988; 1888, 2,291; 1889, 2,039; 1890, 2,459. Returned: 1888, 1,292; 1889, 1,814; 1890, 1,373. We have no Return from the colony showing the percentage of mortality asked for by the hon. Member. The total number of deaths reported to the Polynesian Department for the years 1886–90 inclusive will be found at Page 54 of the Blue Book just presented. If more precise information is required, the necessary Return will be obtained from the colony.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

I understand the Colonial Office have no information with respect to the mortality other than is in the Return circulated this morning?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

That is so.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

The right hon. Gentleman is quite aware that it is admitted that the figures are not wholly sufficient?

*BARON H. DE WORMS

Those are the only Returns we have. If he wishes to have a further Return, I will speak to my noble Friend the Secretary of State.