Mr. POINTERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been called to the case of unprovoked assault by Lieutenant James Robert Simson, of the West African Regiment, who is stationed at Wilberforce Barracks, Sierra Leone, upon James Jenkins Johnson, of Freetown; whether he can say what penalty was inflicted by the court; whether he is aware of the number of cases in which soldiers of the West African Regiment endeavour to compel by force native labourers to carry their luggage, and that, when remonstrated with, they declare that they are acting upon the instructions of heir officers; whether he will cause full inquiry to be made; and whether he will impress upon the military officials in Sierra Leone the necessity of treating the natives with consideration and respect and of seeing that those under their command do the same?
Mr. HARCOURTI will ask for particulars of the alleged incident, which has not previously been brought to my notice.