HC Deb 03 November 1908 vol 195 cc969-70
MR. G. GREENWOOD (Peterborough)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Natal has yet investigated the charges made by Miss Colenso with regard to the flogging and other ill-treatment of natives in Natal or Zululand, as set forth in her letter to the Prime Minister of Natal, dated 10th August last; whether that Government have supplied the information asked for by the Secretary of State in his telegram of the 17th September last to the Governor of Natal; whether the Natal Indemnity Act of this year would, in its present form, provide an indemnity even for such acts as are charged by Miss Colenso; and whether he can give an assurance that before the Royal Assent is finally given to that Act the same shall be modified by, at least, the excision of Section 4 thereof.

COLONEL SEELY

I fear I am not at present in a position to add anything to the correspondence published in the last Blue-Book [Cd. 4328].

MR. G. GREENWOOD

Is it the fact that the Act of Indemnity has not yet received the final sanction of His Majesty's Government?

COLONEL SEELY

Yes, that is so.