§ Mr. WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the special departmental committee considering the question of indentured coolie labour in the Federated Malay States has yet issued its report; and what steps His Majesty's Government intend to take?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I understand my hon. Friend to refer to the inquiry conducted by Mr. Parr on behalf of the Government of the Federated Malay States into the mortality among Indian indentured labourers. Mr. Parr's report was received in October last, but before its receipt it had already been decided to put an end to the system of Indian indentured labour. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for India stated in this House on 17th March, 1910, the introduction of such labour after 30th June last was prohibited and steps were taken for releasing 1,000 coolies from their indentures. I may say that Mr. Parr's report has shown that there was ample justification for the adoption of this course. The Government of the Federated Malay States is fully alive to the necessity of safeguarding to the utmost possible extent the health of labourers working on estates, and a special Health Department has now been created with a view to ensuring the observance of the sanitary regulations laid down by the Government.