§ Mr. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether emigration from India to the Federated Malay States has been definitely and permanently prohibited?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe prohibition, which is definite and intended to be permanent, applies only to indentured labour emigration from India to the Federated Malay States.
§ Mr. REESasked whether the emigration of coolies from India to the Federated 566W Malay States, which is calculated to account for not less than 1,500 coolies per month, will now be diverted to Ceylon; or whether the coolies concerned will be deprived of one, without being furnished with another, opportunity of employment?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIf my hon. Friend has in mind the recent decision to stop indentured emigration from India to the Malay States—a decision rendered imperative by the mortality among such emigrants—I invite his attention to the fact that its effect on employment is not likely to be appreciable, having regard to the small proportion that such emigration bears to the total emigration to the Malay States.