HC Deb 22 March 1904 vol 132 cc403-4
SIR HENRY FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

I wish to put a Question to the Prime Minister, of which I have given private notice, arising out of an incident in Monday's debate. In the course of his speech the right hon. Gentleman made a, statement to the effect that the preceding Government—and by gesture indicated me as the Minister in that Government responsible for India—had included in the Labour Ordinances for Trinidad and British Guiana, with insignificant difference, the regulations contained in the Transvaal Ordinance. I ventured to contradict the statement across the Table, but am sure the right hon. Gentleman did not hear the contradiction, for he took no notice of it.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

What was it?

SIR HENRY FOWLER

That there were no differences except in unimportant particulars. The atmosphere of the House was at the time in a condition of which the right hon. Gentleman had reason to complain, and I did not venture to obtrude further interruption likely to involve a wrangle on a point of fact, not of argument. But now I desire to ask the Prime Minister whether he will lay on the Table copies of the Trinidad and British Guiana Ordinances as to the immigration of Indian coolies to which he referred in his speech.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I should be sorry if anything I said or omitted to say should be interpreted by the right hon. Gentleman as in any way a discourtesy to him. [Sir HENEY FOWLER: Oh, no!] What I said or intended to say was that the differences between the Ordinances were immaterial so far as the allegations of slavery were concerned, and to that opinion I still adhere. I think the right hon. Gentleman and the House have the right to the fullest information on this point. The Trinidad Ordinance is already in print; the Guiana Ordinance is not at present, but it shall be reprinted; and I shall be happy to lay both on the Table. Should there be any difficulty in obtaining copies of the Trinidad Ordinance, that can be reprinted too.

SIR HENRY FOWLER

The Trinidad Ordinance appeared as an appendix to another Blue-book and might easily escape notice; it will he convenient if they both appear in the same form.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

There will, be no difficulty in complying with rite request, which seems a very reasonable one.