§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that, by a recent Act of the Australian Legislature, British workers landing in Australia under contracts of labour are treated as criminals and subjected to imprisonment and deportation; and whether, having regard to the burden imposed upon British taxpayers by the cost of Imperial defence, he will bring in a Bill to secure to all classes in this country the right of entry into all parts of His Majesty's dominions.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON,) Warwick and LeamingtonThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, but as has already been pointed out in answer to the hon. Member's Question of the 11th of February,† though the Act-has been in force for more than two years, not a single case of any British workman being treated as described has occurred. In regard to the second part
See (4) Debates, cxxix., 1025.972 of the Question, the hon. Member does not appear to be aware that Australia provides entirely for its own military defence and further contributes, with New Zealand, half the estimated cost of the Naval Squadron in Australasian waters. His Majesty's Government have no intention of proposing such legislation.