§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the account of an interview with Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson, in The Sydney Presbyterian of 25th March, relative to the Kanaka labour traffic, wherein he states that there is the greatest difficulty in any possible supervision of the labour traffic by the Queensland Government as it is impossible for a Government Agent to know the 80 languages which are spoken in the islands; and whether he is aware 325 that, in many cases, the labourers are returned to the wrong places, which involves their death, and which no Government Agent is sufficiently well-posted to prevent; and that it is the custom, when it is desired to compel labourers to re-volunteer, to bring the ship up opposite an enemy's bay, and tell the men they are to be landed there where their lives would be in danger, and give them, as a forced alternative, the choice of re-indenturing; and what steps are in contemplation to deal with these evils?
§ *MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI have read the interview referred to. As far as I can understand Mr. Stevenson's views, be is in favour of "recruiting" under proper supervision. The statements made by him in regard to the labour traffic appear to be founded on hearsay evidence, and seem to refer to the recruiting as carried on under the old system, which unquestionably led to much abuse. Papers are now being printed, and will soon be circulated, which will, I hope, prove to my hon. Friend that the conditions have been entirely altered, and that the greatest care is now taken to insure that cruelty, coercion, and kidnapping shall be eliminated from this labour traffic. I may add, as regards recruiting by foreign vessels in places under British protection, that Her Majesty's Government are considering how unsuitable practices can be prevented, and are in correspondence with the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, who is shortly to visit the Gilbert Islands and to report upon the question after consulting with the Native Chiefs.
§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)Can the hon. Gentleman say when the Papers will be presented?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe printers are now dealing with them. I do not know how long it will be before they are ready, but I will inquire.