§ 33. Miss RATHBONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether inquiries have now been addressed by the Colonial Secretary to the Governors of Crown Colonies in South Africa with a view to eliciting their opinions concerning the best methods of 390 improving the status and conditions of the women of the coloured races, and especially of discouraging certain cruel marriage rites; and, if so, whether he will report on the answers received to the said inquiries?
§ Dr. SHIELSInquiries on the points mentioned have been addressed to the Governments of the East and West African Dependencies and of Fiji and the Western Pacific Islands. Only a few replies have as yet been received, and I do not propose to make any statement until the replies are complete and have been considered.