§ MR. JOHN ELLISI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will inform the House if the Pacific Island Labourers Act, 1901, of the Commonwealth of Australia, prohibits the entry into Australia of any Pacific Islander after 31st March, 1904, and enacts the deportation from Australia of Pacific Islanders from there after 31st December, 1906.
§ MR. LYTTELTONThe Act in question prohibits the entry into Australia of any Pacific Island labourer after 31st March, 1904, and gives power to the Minister for External Affairs to order the deportation of any Pacific Island labourer found in Australia after the 31st December, 1906.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISasked whether that answer was consistent with the right hon. Gentleman's statement on Monday night.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI stated that the Acts to which I referred have not been repealed. Those Acts were alleged to authorise slavery. I still think it is entirely inconsistent with that allegation that the Commonwealth of Australia should keep those Acts in operation from 1901 to 1906.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISsaid his statement was that the system had been put an end to.