§ Mr. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether satisfactory arrangements have been made for warning natives of India as to the reception they are likely to receive in British Columbia; and whether, in view of representations by the Government of British Honduras to the effect that favourable opportunities exist there for the employment of Indian immigrants, inquiries have been made as to the correctness of such representations in order to the publication of satisfactory information on this subject also in parts of India whence emigration to Canada proceeds?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for INDIA (Mr. Buchanan)The Government of India 1572 have full information as to the prospects of employment open to natives of India in British Columbia, and it is understood that they have published as far as practicable warnings to Indians that emigration thither is undesirable. As to British Honduras, the Government of India have been informed of the openings for Indian labour in that Colony. It was at one time thought that Indians now in British Columbia who found difficulty in obtaining work there might desire to avail themselves of the opportunity of migrating to British Honduras; but there appears to be at present no large number of unemployed Indians in British Columbia, and the matter has been dropped. No desire has been expressed by the Colony of British Honduras to import Indian labour direct from India.
§ Mr. REESasked the under-Secretary of State for India whether he can assure the House that the Indian taxpayer shall in no case be charged on account of payment of wages to foreigners of any rates in excess of those ordinarily prevailing in the countries of such foreigners whenever stores for India are purchased in such foreign countries?
§ Mr. BUCHANANThe Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that foreign employers of labour have any intention of acting as suggested by the hon. Member.