§ MR. HOGANI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Lord Carnarvon, in sanctioning the present scheme of native taxation in Fiji on 31st May, 1876, distinctly stated that he regarded it in the light of an experiment, and enjoined the then Governor (Sir Arthur Gordon) to be particularly careful that no hardship or oppression was inflicted on any class of the native population in the incidence and collection of the tax; whether any inquiry into the practical working of this experimental scheme of taxation has ever been made; whether he is aware that the natives in some dis- 795 tricts are virtually employed for the greater part of the year in raising the Government tax demanded of them, and that their condition in consequence is but little removed from slavery; and whether, in view of the recent native outbreak in Fiji, which was suppressed by the Governor in person with the loss of seven lives, he will consider the propriety of instituting an inquiry into the results and the practical operation of this scheme of taxation?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe instructions given by the Secretary of State in sanctioning the scheme of native taxation introduced into Fiji are rightly quoted by the hon. Member. It has not hitherto been considered necessary to direct that an inquiry should be held into the practical working of a scheme which it is believed has, on the whole, worked fairly well. The information at our disposal does not confirm the suggestion of the hon. Member that the condition of the Fijian native is, in consequence of the Government tax, but little removed from slavery. As regards the last portion of the question, I can only repeat what I stated on the 13th instant, that no information has been received confirming the statements to which attention is drawn; but if there has been any such occurrence, we shall doubtless hear of it by Despatch.