§ MR. J. F. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether his attention has been directed to the recent flogging of a number of natives in the Nadroga District of the Crown Colony of Fiji because they refused to work for the Fiji Tobacco Company; whether he is aware that an arrangement was entered into between the Government of Fiji and the Tobacco Company, by which the former undertook to supply the latter with native labour on consideration of receiving a contribution of 4d. on every pound of cured tobacco produced, and that, in pursuance of this arrangement, natives were drafted in large numbers from the surrounding localities to the plantation of the Company under the impression that they were going to work for the Government and raise native tax produce, with the result that, after labouring for about six months without payment or proper food, they clamoured for leave to return to their homes, and that 12 or 15 of them were flogged in the manner described; and, whether, in view of the fact that these natives are British subjects, he will order an inquiry into the incident?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe matter was reported to me by the officer administering the Government of Fiji last year. Certain natives employed on the Nadroga Tobacco Plantation received ten strokes with a rod for insubordination and hindering the work. The punishment was inflicted at the request of the native chiefs under whom the men were employed, and who represented that no other punishment would have any effect, and that it was in accordance with ancient native custom. It was, however, contrary to law, and it is to be regretted that it was inflicted with the concurrence of the Local 1173 Inspector of Taxes, who has, however, been in consequence transferred to another appointment whereby he will suffer a reduction in salary. It is not clear from the correspondence whether the disturbance was due in any way to the want of food; but I have pointed out to the officer administering the Government, that the system under which the experiment in cultivation was carried on is open to objection, and have desired him to consider whether other arrangements might not with advantage be adopted in such cases in future.