§ Mr. SUMMERBELLasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if he is aware that at the Prince's Town police court, Trinidad, on the 29th June, an indentured immigrant was prosecuted for absenting himself from work at the Buen Intento estate; that the presiding magistrate, Mr. H. H. Pasea, called the attention of the overseer to the man's physical condition, remarking that he had been an overseer when these people were treated as human beings, and, after commenting on their present treatment, ordered the man to be sent to hospital; and whether ho is prepared to take action in regard to such cases of ill-treatment?
§ Mr. SUMMERBELLalso asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if he was aware that at the Prince's Town police court, Trinidad, on the 29th June, an indentured labourer from the Jordan Hill estate was prosecuted for absenting himself from such estate without a pass; that, in regard to such, it was pointed out that at Bronté there had been a free fight amongst such labourers, and that the overseers stood by and saw a man being beaten to death; that the man prosecuted was a good worker; that there are many complaints as to the treatment of these people; and, if so, would he state what action, if any, the Government intend to take to put an end to such proceedings?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)The Secretary of State has no knowledge of any of the incidents to which he refers, but he will cause inquiry to be made into these allegations.