§ 3. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of recent criticism of the labour conditions in the tea gardens of Assam, he will give the substance of official Reports upon this industry?
§ Earl WINTERTONI am placing copies of the Official Reports on Immigrant Labour in the Province of Assam for the years ending June, 1926, and June, 1927, in the Library of the House. It would scarcely be possible, within the limits of a Parliamentary reply, to give the substance of the Reports, but there is nothing in them or 1397 in the Resolutions of the Local Government to lead my Noble Friend to suppose that labour conditions are other than satisfactory. In the Resolutions for both 1926 and 1927 attention is called to the increase in wages.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEHas the attention of my Noble Friend been called to the report on labour conditions in India issued by the Trade Unions Conference, which describes the conditions in Assam as virtual slavery, and whether, in those circumstances, he will take steps to see that the real truth of the conditions is made known not only in India but in this country?
§ Earl WINTERTONI think that there is ample information to be found in the reports to which I have referred. In regard to the question of these reports, I understand that they are issued by a non-official body, and I do not know that it should be considered necessary that my Noble Friend should take any official cognizance of it. No doubt the people affected have their remedy at law if this report mentions the tea companies by name by bringing an action for slander or libel.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEI beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment to-night.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the Noble Lord publish the reports instead of laying them upon the Table so that the facts as admitted will be known, and it can also get into the public Press?
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINAre they not merely wild rumours to anyone who knows anything about Assam?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs regards the question raised by the hon. Member above the Gangway opposite, I will consider whether it is possible to have copies placed in the Vote Office. I will see that they are made available in some way. In regard to the second question, I should prefer not to comment at too great a length on this report, because it is really sub judice, because if the statements contained in the reports are untrue and any of the companies concerned are mentioned by name, then I understand it is the intention to proceed by action for slander.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIf my Noble Friend has studied the reports he will see that they do not refer to teagardens by name, and therefore legal action cannot be taken. It slanders the whole industry in a way that is totally unnecessary and untrue, and I beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the Adjournment.