§ 12. Dr. CHAPPLEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that in 1912 a number of Punjabi farmers realised their property in India with a view to accepting agricultural holdings in the Argentine Republic, and on reaching Buenos Ayres were not permitted to land and were brought on to London in a state of destitution; whether the India Office took any steps to secure for them redress; whether they have been repatriated; whether the India Office is aware that another party of thirty-seven Punjabi farmers recently arrived in New Zealand from the Fiji Islands and were to leave for the Argentine in December; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to ascertaining what has become of them?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Harold Baker)The Secretary of State for India has no information as to the Punjabis, reported to have gone to New Zealand, but is making inquiries. With regard to the first part of the question, a large number of Punjabis went to the Argentine last year. Fifty-three of these, who had been allowed to land there but had failed to get work, came on to England in a destitute condition, and were repatriated to India by the India Office.