Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the officer administering the government of British Guiana has reported with respect to the alleged riots in Plantation Rose Hall, in the county of Berbice, on 13th March last; whether the person representing the Immigration Agent-General was Mr. D. M. Hutson; whether the latter is proprietor or in any way connected with the ownership of a sugar plantation employing indentured immigrants; and whether he will lay a copy of the Report upon the Table?
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Mr. HARCOURTThe Governor has furnished me with an account of these disturbances, the substance of which I have already communicated to the House in my reply of the 15th April. I have not yet received the Report of the coroners inquisition, and pending its receipt, my hon. Friend will realise that it is undesirable that I should make any further statement. I understand that, in accordance with the procedure adopted in 1896, and on the advice of the Attorney-General, Mr. D. M. Hutson, K.C., who has been a member of the Executive Council since 5th November, 1896, has been appointed to watch the inquiry on behalf of the Immigration Department, but I do not know whether or not Mr. Hutson is connected with the sugar industry.
Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who were the officers in charge of the police in the following disturbances in British Guiana: Plantation Non-Pareil about 1896, the 1st December riots in 1905, Plantation Lusignan on or about 18th September, 1912, Plantation Kinderen in February, and Plantation Rose Hall, 1913; what were the numbers of killed and wounded in each case; in which of the cases deaths and woundings were the result of the police firings; and whether bullets were used on all or any of these occasions?
Mr. HARCOURTDuring the riots at Plantation Non-Pareil in 1896 Inspector de Rinzy was in charge of the police, five coolies were killed and fifty-nine wounded. In the riots of December, 1905, Colonel Lushington and Major de Rinzy were in charge, eight persons were killed, and thirteen wounded, besides one policeman killed and about fifty-eight policemen injured. No police were present at the disturbances at Plantation Lusignan in September last. One man was killed. I have not heard of a disturbance at Plantation Kinderen. At the Rose Hall riots Colonel de Rinzy was in charge of the police, one policeman and fifteen other persons were killed, and about forty seriously wounded, including two policemen. Buckshot was used at Non-Pareil, and bullets in the other cases.
Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the unsettled social conditions in British Guiana, which is evidenced by the late disturbances on certain plantations employing indentured immigrants, accompanied 1630W by loss of life and serious injury, he will appoint a commission or other inquiry by persons non-resident in British Guiana, or other places where indentured labour is employed, with a view to obtaining a reliable report on the conditions under which such labour is employed?
Mr. HARCOURTCommissioners were lately deputed by the Government of India to make such an inquiry as my hon. Friend contemplates, and these officers have just visited British Guiana.