MR. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been called to the fact that the Resident at the Gilbert Ellice Islands has deprived chiefs of their land, ordered floggings for delay in payment of taxes, and has organised a system of forced labour; and, if so, will he state what steps the High Commissioner at Fiji has taken to exercise control over the administration of justice at the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINAllegations, of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member, against the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate were fully investigated in September, 1901, and were reported to be unfounded, as I informed the hon. Member in reply to a similar Question from him on the 14th February, 1902.† I have recently received other complaints of maladministration in the Protectorate from a former officer of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, whose appointment he High Commissioner for the Western Pacific terminated in 1900. The complaints have been referred to the High Commissioner for investigation.