§ 83 and 137. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a resolution of Indians 2391 in British East Africa protesting against the flogging of Indian prisoners in local gaols by order of the superintendents of prisons; and whether His Majesty's Government will give orders that this method of maintaining discipline in East African prisons shall be abolished?
The HON. MEMBERalso asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the practice of the local governments of East Africa in imposing restrictions upon the sale and mortgage of land between European and British-Indian subjects causes hardship and ill-feeling among the Indians of East Africa and whether His Majesty's Government will request the local governments of East Africa to remove all such restrictions?
§ The following Questions appeared on the Order Paper for non-oral answer:—
§ 10. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether Indian soldiers who served in the campaign against the Germans in East Africa are receiving grants of land from the East African local Governments in the same way as the British soldiers of European descent; if not, whether His Majesty's Government will instruct the East African authorities to do so, in view of the resentment which is caused among the Indians by the differential treatment of British white troops and Indian soldiers who fought side by side in the same campaign; (2) whether he is aware that resentment is caused among the Indians in East Africa by the omission on the part of the Government of East Africa to appoint any Indian member on the British East Africa Economic Commission and by those parts of the Commission's Report which affect the Indian community; and whether His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of appointing another commission with at least one Indian member to safeguard the interests of the Indians in East Africa?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI will answer these four questions together. The matters dealt with in the hon. and gallant Member's four questions, including that addressed to the Secretary of State for India, are included in the Resolutions adopted by the Eastern Africa Indian National Congress in November last. These Resolutions, and the position of 2392 Indians generally in East Africa, will be discussed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, on arrival in England, with the Governor of the East Africa Protectorate, who is remaining in England for the purpose. In the circumstances, I am not in a position to make any statement on the points raised in the questions.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill this discussion include a representative of the India Office, preferably the Secretary of State?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI have no doubt the Secretary of State for the Colonies will consult him.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman convey to the Colony in question the views of the Colonial Office on the question of flogging?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYI am not prepared to do that.
§ 84. Mr. SPOORasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether a Government Commission on Native Labour sat in British East Africa in 1912–13; whether the hon. A. C. Hollis, C.M.G., Secretary for Native Affairs, gave evidence showing that labour recruited through the native chiefs was in practice compulsory labour; whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government now to introduce compulsory labour in British East Africa; if not, whether the Governor's instructions to Provincial and District Commissioners, that the onus of finding labour was to be put on native chiefs and elders, will now be withdrawn:
(2) whether the Governor of British East Africa has issued instructions to Provincial and District Commissioners to inform native chiefs and elders that it is part of their duty to advise and encourage young men in their areas to go out and work on plantations; whether any such duty has been imposed by law on native chiefs and elders; if not, on what authority the Governor's statement was made; on what authority reports are called for on any headman who is impervious to His Excellency's wishes; and what is the nature of the action which the Governor proposes to take against any such headman?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYAs I informed the hon. Member on the 23rd of February, the whole question of native labour in 2393 East Africa, including the issue raised by the administrative circular to which the hon. Member refers, will be discussed with Sir E. Northey by the Secretary of State on his return.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODThat circular bas not yet been received?