§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the strong complaints of the Natal Indians as to the demoralising effect upon those members of the Indian community liable to the £3 annual licence imposed upon male Indians of the age of sixteen years and upwards, and female Indians of thirteen years and upwards, whose contracts of indenture have expired; whether he is aware that evidence was given before the Sanderson Commission on Emigration from India to the Crown Colonies and Protectorates to the effect that, owing to the imposition of the £3 annual licence only 6 per cent. of the time-expired Indians were now able to avail themselves of the right to remain free in Natal, the remaining 94 per cent. being obliged either to re-indenture or to return to India; whether this alternative of compulsory contract-service or compulsory repatriation was contemplated by His Majesty's Government when the measure imposing this tax was assented to, and what steps, if any, His Majesty's Government propose to take to procure the repeal of the tax?
Mr. HARCOURTComplaints of this nature have been brought to my notice, and I understand that it is correct that
488Wthe great majority of time-expired Indians either re-indenture or return to India. This result was undoubtedly contemplated when the Natal Act No. 17 of 1895 was passed. The legislation in question was passed with the full knowledge and consent of the Government of India and of Her Majesty's Government. Indentured emigration to Natal has now ceased, but the Union Government is not prepared to take steps for repealing the law.