§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the imprisonment and deportation of British workmen landing in Australia under a contract of labour, why neither the Governor-General nor the Imperial Government made any use of the powers conferred upon them for the protection of British interests by the Commonwealth Act; and whether he will give an undertaking that in future Colonial legislation injuriously affecting the inhabitants of the United Kingdom will be brought to the notice of Parliament before it is assented to by the representatives of the Crown.
§ * MR. LYTTELTONCases of British workmen landing in Australia under contract of labour, other than those specially exempted under the provisions of the Australian Immigration Act, are so few that His Majesty's Government would not have been justified in refusing to sanction an important measure of legislation passed by the Commonwealth Parliament on that account. The measure has been in force for more than two years and not a single case of any British workman having been finally refused permission to land has been brought to notice. It would be impossible to give any general undertaking of the nature referred to.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONDid the Governor-General use his power of sending the Bill back for amendment?
§ * MR. LYTTELTONNo, Sir.