HC Deb 16 April 1914 vol 61 cc312-3
17. Mr. HUNT

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the evidence of Mr. Park before the Dominions Commission to the effect that there were 5,000 unlicensed emigration agents, who monopolised the sale of emigrants' passage tickets and gave highly coloured descriptions of the Dominions, especially as to there being employment for unskilled labour; and whether he could take any steps to prevent fraudulent representations being made by unlicensed agents in the future?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)

I have seen the evidence in question. The Dominions Royal Commission, in their second Interim Report, postponed their recommendations pending further study of the subject and the introduction of any further safeguards must await their final Report. I may, however, point out that fraudulent representations by emigration agents are punishable under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, under which, in a recent case, a prosecution was successfully instituted by the Board of Trade.

Mr. HUNT

Is that the only case that has been successfully instituted?

Mr. HARCOURT

It is the only recent case.