Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of the officials of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company of beating, tying with ropes, and painting the heads of men aboard their vessels as stowaways; whether, seeing the men in question were there because they understood the practice of last year, whereby the harbour authorities shipped contract labour to Colon, was being continued, he will cause full information to be disseminated in such a way that there shall be no such mistakes in future; and whether he will take such steps as to put an effective stop to such practices of painting and similar forms of disfigurement?
Mr. HARCOURTI have received no complaints as to the treatment of stowaways on board steamers of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, but I shall be glad to facilitate inquiries into any specific case of alleged ill-usage which may be brought to my notice.