§ MR. T. R. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to The Immigration Restriction Act, 1897, recently passed by the Parliament of Western Australia, 1522 whereby British Indian and other British subjects who are neither paupers nor criminals will be prohibited from landing in that Colony; and whether he will consider the propriety of disallowing the statute?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESThe Act to which the hon. Member refers does not exclude British Indians as such. But it excludes all emigrants who cannot write out a passage—and a good number of British Indians can do that—of 50 words, selected from an English author, as well as paupers, criminals, and lunatics. The feeling in Australia, on this subject is very strong, and as the Measure does not conflict with the principles laid down at the Conference with the Premiers, I am, not prepared to advise Her Majesty to disallow it.