36. Mr. POINTERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to the case of Hart v. Soonanan, which was tried in the Chaguanas Police Court, Trinidad, on 26th April last, and to the cross-summons arising therefrom tried in the same Court on 2nd May, in which Soonanan received a sentence of £5, or two months' hard labour, for an alleged threatened assault upon Hart, the estate manager, whilst Hart, who admitted having assaulted Soonanan, escaped without any punishment; and whether, seeing that similar incidents are constantly occurring and seem to be inseparable from the practice of indentured labour, he can hold out any hope that the system will be abolished in the near future?
Mr. HARCOURTI have no official information on the matter, but have seen newspaper reports from which I observe that it was a case of cross-summonses for menaces and assault, and that an appeal has been entered. Assaults and allegations of assault are unfortunately not unknown elsewhere, and I do not think that occasional Police Court proceedings afford sufficient ground for depriving the Colony of an indispensable supply of labour.
Mr. POINTERHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the difference in the sentences, namely, that in one case where the assault was proved and admitted and the man proceeded against was let off, and in the other case where it was merely alleged that there had been a threatened assault the man was convicted?
§ Sir J. D. REESIs it not a fact that there is a report to the effect that indentured labour was equally beneficial to the indentured labour and to the Colony to which it was sent?