§ 15. Mr. William Teelingasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any statement to make on the conviction of two Land Dayaks in the District Court, Kuching, Sarawak, for failing to comply with an order to assist in transporting the district officer's baggage from Kampong Segu to Kampong Hunggu during that officer's visit to those Kampongs; and how much they were fined.
Mr. Creech JonesI am making inquiries from the Governor and will communicate with the hon. Member when I have received the reply.
§ Mr. TeelingWill the right hon. Gentleman assure us that there is no compulsory service or slave labour or anything like that going on in Sarawak at the moment?
Mr. Creech JonesI am not aware of any compulsory labour of the kind described. There are, of course, some provisos in the Forced Labour Convention. However, I am looking into the whole matter and will communicate with the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWhen the right hon. Gentleman provides his report, could he also add whether or not these men are supporters of the Brooke family in Sarawak?
§ Mr. James HudsonWill my right hon. Friend make available to the House generally the information which he has promised to pass on to the hon. Gentleman?