§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the complaints made by indentured Indian coolies in Mauritius that they are recruited by misrepresentations and subjected to hardships and ill-treatment on the plantations; that, when brought before the magistrates they are unable to obtain witnesses in their favour, as no one is willing to give evidence against the employers; that they are often refused admission to hospital when ill; and that their contracts are unfairly prolonged under a law passed since they were engaged; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?
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Mr. HARCOURTI have not received any representations on the subject, but if my hon. Friend will inform me of any specific instance in which coolies have been recruited through misrepresentations, or ill-treated, I will make inquiry. The law to which my hon. Friend refers provides that a labourer who is illegally absent from his work may have his contract prolonged by the number of days during which he has been so absent—but I am not aware of any unfair prolongation of contracts, nor that labourers are unable to obtain witnesses in their favour.