§ LORD LAMINGTONMy Lords, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a cablegram which appeared in the issue of the Daily Mail of the 21st instant, having reference to the deportation of Kanakas from Queensland; whether any communication as alleged has been received from Captain Rason, R.N., the British resident in the New Hebrides. I do not myself understand how the situation described by Captain Rason can have yet arisen but perhaps it is a forecast of what may occur in 1906. I would also ask what protective measures in the interest of returned Pacific Islanders have been adopted by the Commonwealth Government in accordance with the statement made by the noble Earl in this House, and whether these are framed on the previous regulations of the Queensland Government, or whether fresh ones have been substituted. In reply to a Question put on my behalf last December by my noble friend Lord Stanmore, the Under Secretary stated that the South Sea Islanders were not British subjects.† I venture to think that that was hardly correct, because they are largely recruited from islands which are for the most part under British jurisdiction. I should have thought, therefore, that they were entitled to be treated as British subjects.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (the Earl of ONSLOW)My Lords, I am a subscriber to the Daily Mail, but I do not know that I read it with very great care every day. As soon as the noble Lord's Question appeared on the Paper, however, I made it my business to read the cablegram to which he has referred, and I venture to think that it partakes of a somewhat sensational character. I gather from the terms of the cablegram that any unfortunate Kanaka who returned to his
† See (4) Debates, cxvi., 1459.286 country would immediately be killed, cooked, and eaten, on the most approved principles. I really think that that is a very great exaggeration; and even if it were true that there is a prospect of these persons being killed, every precaution will be taken to see that they do not go back to the place where any such fate might await them. Captain Rason is at this moment in Queensland, and his special business is to go among the Kanakas, who, under the Act, will shortly be repatriated to their own country, and to inform them of what opportunities are available for them. If there is the slightest danger, or even if they fear there is the slightest danger, in their own part of the world, there are many places open to them in the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands, and elsewhere, where the planters will be only too glad to avail themselves of their services. I cannot help thinking that when we get Captain Rason's report we shall find that he has been able to give them assurances and to make provision for their being taken to some part of the British possessions, or to islands under the British protectorate, where they will be sure of good and safe treatment. The noble Lord found some fault with a remark I made when my noble friend Lord Stanmore put a Question to me at the end of last session, to the effect that these Kanakas were not British subjects. Many of them come from islands that are certainly not part of the British possessions, some of them are not even within the sphere of influence of Great Britain, and residence in Queensland does not make them British subjects. But none the less His Majesty's Government and the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia recognise that it is their duty to give every facility for the protection of these men, just the same as if they were subjects of His Majesty.
§ LORD LAMINGTONI am much obliged to the noble Earl for his satisfactory answer. I have got what I was anxious to obtain, namely, the appointment of an official to safeguard the interest of these Kanakas. But I should like to ask the noble Lord whether he will undertake that this Report, when it is received from Captain Rason, will be laid on the Table; whether the Federal Government have drawn up a series of 287 regulations which can also be printed and laid on the Table of the House, or whether they are acting simply on the regulations which the Queensland Government have been acting upon hitherto. In any case I think the regulations should be made public.
THE EARL OF ONSLOWI think I can meet the wishes of the noble Lord best by laying on the Table of the House the communication we have received from the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia enclosing a memorandum from the Ministers in response to a request from His Majesty's Government that they would take every precaution to see that these men were properly treated. I do not know whether they are being returned to their islands under the Queensland regulations, or under a fresh set of regulations, but I will inquire, and if I find that the regulations can be laid on the Table I will certainly adopt that course.
§ House adjourned during pleasure.
§ House resumed.