§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the fact that the imposition of forced labour (unpaid) is imposed upon the West Africans in lieu of the imposition of money rates, he will say on what grounds heavy taxation by way of customs is imposed on the same people. I beg also to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is in a position to state whether forced (unpaid) labour has ever been demanded, or, if demanded, the latest date of such demand in the Colonies of Gambia, Sierra Leone, 117 Gold Coast, or of Lagos, before the absorption of the last-mentioned Colony in South Nigeria.
§ *MR. CHURCHILLBy universal and immemorial custom of the numerous tribes inhabiting the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria (and West Africa generally) the inhabitants of each town are responsible for the upkeep of the native paths running through their lands. In the large portion of Southern Nigeria where the House Rule Proclamation is in force, the natives all belong to some house, and in return for the protection they receive are liable under that law to work for their chiefs. In the interior where this proclamation is not in force all inhabitants are subject, probably to a greater extent, to the control of their chiefs. The town dwellers also, except whore British rule is established, build and maintain defensive walls and trenches —generally extending for many miles— round their towns as a protection against raids. Often several lines of walls and trenches exist. As we occupy territory all this ceases, and the Governor reports that the relief thus given must be tenfold the requirements of the Government for the construction and maintenance of better roads. After the establishment of British Government the inhabitants of all towns and villages in the territory under our control are required to construct necessary additions to and maintain the existing roads through their districts in good order. In the last two years the construction of roads of a much better class than those previously existing has been undertaken, and it has been recognised that the natives could not reasonably be called upon to construct such loads without assistance from the Government; although they themselves are, of course, the chief gainers by improved communications. In most places the benefits arising from new roads are fully understood by the chiefs, and they gladly assist in their construction. Where such improved roads have been constructed payment has always been made to the natives, but in cases where they have been called upon simply to clear a broader track through the country and to fell trees and uproot stumps, payments have been made to the chiefs. The rule is for the chiefs to supply food for the men sent by them to work. It has boon left to the discretion of the 118 Provincial, Divisional and District Commissioners to consider the amounts that should be paid from Government funds for road work done, and I believe, they have always shown full consideration to representations made by the chiefs or people that work on roads may be suspended or considerably reduced during the farming and palm oil seasons. In addition to this ordinary road-making and construction work, it has always been customary to fine towns and villages for risings against the Government, for murders, human sacrifices, slave-dealing, etc., and in lieu of the exaction of a fine in cattle, sheep or produce, chiefs have been required and certainly prefer to provide labour for road construction or for the clearing of sites and the erection of buildings for new stations. The people are invariably dealt with through their chiefs, and I need scarcely state that any abuse by Government officers of their delegated discretionary powers would entail the severest censure, if not the dismissal of the officer concerned. Subject to these exceptions the Secretary of State is not aware that forced unpaid labour has within any recent period been demanded in any of the colonies named or, so far as his present information goes, that it has been demanded in Southern Nigeria. The experience of the Road Construction Department, however, has been that unpaid labour is unsatisfactory, and even costly, for works of any magnitude on account of its fluctuations and inexperience. The question of the abolition of a deeply-rooted custom is too large and complex for any hasty or immediate decision, but the Secretary of State earnestly hopes that it may eventually follow into extinction other still more undesirable local institutions which have been already terminated by the extension of British authority.
§ MR. CATHCART WASONThen in any case payment is made to the chiefs and poissbly by them indirectly to their men?
§ *MR. CHURCHILLYes.