HC Deb 10 April 1899 vol 69 cc690-1
MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether troubles have arisen among the natives in the northern territories of the Gold Coast owing to the enforcement of compulsory labour in connection with the telegraph extension works, and a detachment of Hausas has been sent up from the Coast in consequence; and whether he will state the conditions and method by which labour is compulsorily obtained for these and similar works, and lay upon the Table a copy of the Compulsory Labour Ordinance of the Colony?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)

No troubles have arisen in the northern territories of the Gold Coast, but a detachment of Hausas has been sent up to Coomassie in consequence of disturbances in Warn, where the king has been deposed in a revolt of his subjects. The Compulsory Labour Ordinance expired on the 14th of December 1896, and there is now no system of compulsory labour in the Colony.