§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary 1157 of State for the Colonies what arrangements for the treatment of West Australian Aborigines have made in consequence of the Report of Dr. Roth; and whether the practice of confining Aboriginal prisoners by chaining them and putting collars around their necks has been discontinued.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. Runciman, Dewsbury, for Mr. CHURCHILL)Since the Report to which the hon. Member refers, the State of Western Australia has passed an Act with a view to making better protection and provision for natives, a copy of which I shall be happy to show the hon. Member. The practice of chaining natives by the neck while being brought in for trial still, however, continues. The Protector of Aborigines reports that it is the almost unanimous opinion of all who have had any practical experience that this is the most humane method of preventing such prisoners from escaping. I need scarcely say that such an opinion is not shared by His Majesty's Government, and the Secretary of State will desire the Governor, as opportunity offers, to impress upon the Western Australian Government the objections which the continuance of this practice cannot fail to excite in this country.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDDid not Dr. Roth's report recommend that this practice should be discontinued, and has the attention of the Government been drawn to the protest of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Perth? Will inquiry be made with a view to its abolition?
§ MR RUNCIMANI will call the attention of my right hon. friend to these supplementary Questions.