Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received the protest of the Trinidad Working Men's Association against the introduction of 2,300 indentured labourers during next season; whether his attention has been drawn to the speech of Dr. Lawrence in the Trinidad Legislative Council upon the subject of East Indian immigration; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. HARCOURTI have not received the protest referred to, and at the request of the Colonial Government I have now authorised the introduction of the 2,300 labourers during the next season. My hon. Friend has furnished me with a newspaper report of Dr. Lawrence's speech in the Legislative Council of Trinidad. The incidence of the cost of this labour which is referred to in the speech, is now under the consideration of the Colonial Government.
Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of first offenders imprisoned without the option of a fine by Mr. Blackwood Wright during his magistracy of the Port of Spain, Trinidad; the number of persons under the age of eighteen years imprisoned by him without the option of a fine, and for what offences; the number of persons wrongfully imprisoned by him, and released by order of the Governor, in cases not admitting an appeal under the existing law; the number of convictions quashed by the court of appeal as compared with other magistrates of the colony; and the amount of costs paid by the Government in respect of such quashed convictions?