§ 26. Commander WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn, in connection with the available African man-power, to the insistence of every authority who has written upon the subject that, in view of the peculiar dangers and difficulties of the experiment, it would be advisable to utilise the services of ex-administrators and others with mature experience of the African in some advisory capacity upon recruitment, transport, and management; and whether he will consider the advisability of placing the whole of such work in the hands of such a body of men who could act in a capacity similar to Lord Derby's recruiting committee.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs at present advised I am not in favour of the specific proposal suggested by my hon. Friend. I am anxious to have the benefit of the advice of the gentlemen referred to in the question, and I shall try to arrange an interview with them at which I hope the Secretary of State for War will be able to attend.
§ Commander WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the arrangement made with the Colonial Office stands?
§ 31. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has had communications with the Governments of the self-governing Dominions, especially Canada and Australia, on the subject of employing in those Colonies coloured labour for railway, dock, and other unskilled labour; if so, whether he can state that these Colonies have in any case agreed to initiate this policy; under what conditions, if any; and whether the Governments of India, of South Africa, or of any Foreign Power has been approached with a view to the provision of coloured labour in our self-governing Colonies?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have had no communication with the Governments of the Dominions on this subject.
Mr. MAC MASTERIs it not a well-known fact that it is contrary to public policy of the Commonwealth of Australia and of the Dominion of Canada to employ coloured labonr as imported from outside?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think it is a well-known fact, and, in any case, it is a matter for those Governments themselves.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a very strong feeling of resentment growing amongst the working classes in this country at the suggestion of the employment of coloured labour here?