§ MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.R., Elland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will inquire from the Governor of the Straits Settlements as to whether it is the case that indentured Chinese coolies in that colony decline to work except under foremen and gangers of their own colour.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI am informed by the late Governor that Chinese indentured labourers in the Straits Settlements work on the terms laid down in their indentures, which do not provide that overseers, foremen, or gangers should be exclusively Chinese. Sir F. Swettenham is not aware that any such labourer has ever refused to serve under direction other than Chinese, but, since most of the employers of Chinese indentured labour in the Straits Settlements are themselves Chinese, it is natural that the overseers, gangers, and foremen should, as a rule, be Chinese also.