§ MR. SAMUEL SMITHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the trial of the master, mate, and part of the crew of the William Manson, for forcibly carrying off some natives from the Solomon Group in the Pacific; whether he is aware that it was shown that seven native women, without husbands, were taken on board, and provided with husbands picked up at other islands to elude the regulation which forbids women being recruited, except married women who volunteer to accompany their husbands; and whether Her Majesty's Government will adopt adequate measures to suppress such evils in connection with the Queensland labour traffic?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON, Tower Hamlets, Poplar)The report of the trial of the captain, Government agent, and others on board the William Manson has now been received from the Governor of Queensland. The charge upon which these men were tried was the taking by force from an island of the Solomon Group of three natives and carrying them on board the vessel, and on this charge, after a careful trial, they were acquitted by the jury, who had been locked up all night. It is stated that the prisoners have been remanded on other charges. Hon. Members will shortly have the opportunity of judging for themselves as regards the conduct of the case, as it is proposed to present papers on the subject. The Government agent has, however, been dismissed by the Queensland Government, and, with the others concerned, debarred from ever taking part in the labour traffic again. The traffic is being carefully watched, and it will be seen by the prompt action taken by the Queensland Government that they are as fully alive as Her Majesty's Government to the importance of preventing abuses.