§ MR. HOGAN (Tipperary, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the 229 Colonies whether he has received an official report concerning recent outrages upon blacks in Western Australia; whether the Board nominated by Imperial Government for the protection and supervision of the aborigines of Western Australia is still in existence; and whether it is proposed to transfer complete control and oversight of the Western Australian aborigines to the Local Government?
MR. CHAMBERLAINI have received a report from the Governor of Western Australia of two recent cases of cruel treatment of aborigines in that Colony. In one case the accused was tried for murder and convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to penal servitude for life; in the other case the accused were tried for manslaughter and acquited. An Act has been passed by the Colonial Legislature abolishing the Aborigines Protection Board and transferring the care of aborigines to a department of the Colonial Government.