§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any labour Ordinance of any importance now in force in any Crown colony in which the maximum number of hours of labour per day for the indentured labourer and the minimum rate of wages to be paid him are not provided for in the Ordinance itself.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have not been able to assure myself within the short notice given of the facts. It is perhaps sufficient to state that the contract into which the labourer will enter will contain the hours of labour and the rate of wages agreed upon. The contract is fully safeguarded in the interests of the Chinese, not merely by his own intelligence but by a Protector to be appointed in China by the Chinese Government.
§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)Can the right hon. Gentleman say what wages have been agreed upon?
§ MR. LYTTELTONNo, Sir.