§ 24 and 25. Mr. C. ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of Stale for the Colonies (1) what number of Chinese indentured labourers are already on the island of Nauru; what is the period of indenture; and how many women are accompanying the Chinese;
(2) whether the hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to the comments made by the British representative on the Permanent Mandates Commission at Geneva in August last as to the conditions in Nauru; and whether Chinese indentured labourers in Nauru ire kept in compounds?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI am informed that approximately 80 Chinese mechanics and 490 Chinese labourers are employed in Nauru. They are not indentured, but after arrival invariably ask for agreements, though this is in no way compulsory. They usually engage for two years. There is a defined Chinese settlement but no compound, and Chinese are only restricted to their settlement at night. They are not accompanied by women.
§ Mr. ROBERTSI gather that the remarks which the hon. Gentleman the Under-Secretary made on the Commission are not fully substantiated?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI do not know exactly to what remarks my hon. Friend refers. If the hon. Gentleman will look 1485 into the Official Report of the Permanent Mandates Commission, and the explanation given by the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia, I think the matter is very fully dealt with.
§ Mr. ROBERTSIs it a fact that these labourers were in compounds?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI understand that there are no compounds.
§ Mr. C. BUXTONCan the hon. Gentleman tell us what is the difference between a confined area and a, compound?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe object of the confined area is that the Chinese shall live apart. They are confined in their settlement for social reasons at night. In the daytime they can go anywhere they like throughout the island.
§ 37. Mr. C. BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken to provide labour, other than Chinese, for the phosphate industry of Nauru?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORELabour from the native races of the Pacific has always been employed in addition to Chinese at Nauru as far as possible. At present about 360 are employed. Recruiting in the Caroline Islands has ceased, but it has recently been possible to obtain Papuans.
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSIs there any supervision at all over the provision of this labour?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI understand supervision is in charge of the administrator of the island who is under the Commonwealth Government of Australia.
§ 38. Mr. C. BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether British Colonial officials in Hong Kong have made arrangements for the supply of Chinese indentured labour in Nauru and Samoa?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, Sir; but the Government of Hong Kong has afforded the Government of New Zealand certain facilities as mentioned on pages 6 and 7 of Cmd. 919, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of 1486 Nations in regard to the arrangements effected by the Government of New Zealand.
§ Mr. BUXTONIs not the working of the industry of the whole island in the exclusive control of a commercial and private company?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, I believe not. I believe the greater part of these plantations are still under the control I have named.