§ 13. Mr. CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any Government agency exists for the recruitment in India of coolies for work in the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States; and, if so, how many coolies were thus recruited in each of the last three years; and from what districts in India do they chiefly come?
§ Mr. AMERYYes, Sir. By arrangement with the Indian authorities Emigration Commissioners for Malaya are stationed at Madras and Negapatam. As to the second part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for Kidderminster. As to the third part, the chief source of supply is the Madras Presidency.
§ Colonel APPLINWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that the Federated Malay States Government do not induce these coolies away from the private labour in which they are engaged, for the purpose of Government 46 work, in conformity with what the Noble Lord the Under-Secretary of State for India has just said in regard to recruiting?
§ Mr. AMERYI propose to deal with that point in answer to another question, and to give an assurance.
§ 14. Colonel ENGLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any complaints to the effect that native labour in the Straits Settlements is being unduly diverted from industrial and, agricultural pursuits for the construction of public works; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. AMERYI have received representations to the effect that the demand for labour at the naval base is depleting the supply on the rubber plantations. I am, however, assured by the Governor that the total requirements of the naval base are insufficient to have any marked effect on the general labour position in Malaya. The situation is being closely watched by the Straits Settlements Government in conjunction with the local representatives of the Admiralty.
§ Mr. HARRISWould it not help out the difficulty to stop building the docks?