Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that the keeping of the King's subjects in a state of slavery is allowed in portions of British India and Burmah; and what steps the Government proposes to take to vindicate the right to freedom which is the birthright of British subjects?
Mr. CHANCELLORasked whether Regulations of the Indian or Assam Governments exist in operation compelling slaves who have escaped into British from Abor territory to be returned to their owners, or to suffer imprisonment for six months, unless they pay a ransom of 60 rupees to secure their freedom; and whether the Government propose to cancel these Regulations?
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Mr. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State has no information of the existence of any such Regulations as are referred to in the question, but he will inquire.
Mr. CHANCELLORalso asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that Abors have been allowed to recapture, in British territory, bind, and forcibly carry back into slavery persons who had sought freedom by placing themselves under British rule; and what steps the Indian Government proposes to take to put an end to this state of things?
Mr. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State is not aware of the fact alleged, but I can assure the hon. Member that any violation of the settled districts of British territory by Abors or others would be very seriously considered.
Mr. CHANCELLORfurther asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that under the boi system existing among the Lushai tribes, whose country has been British territory for sixteen years, thousands of men, women, and children are slaves to their chiefs, and can only secure freedom by payment of ransom, which is practically impossible to children, women, and persons compelled to work without wages; and what steps the Government proposes to take to give to these tribesmen the status of free men?
Mr. ROBERTSI do not know the hon. Member's authority for estimating the number of bawi in the Lushai Hills at "thousands." Any bawi is able, under the principles lately adopted by the Assam Government in consultation with a conference of Welsh Calvanistic missionaries, either to leave the service of a chief and allow the latter to apply to the Courts for compensation or himself to appeal to the Courts to record an order that he is no longer a bawi. The maximum compensation payable to the chief in respect of an entire family is under £3 sterling, and is treated as an ordinary judgment debt. As has already been stated in the House, the whole position will be personally investigated very shortly by the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
Mr. CHANCELLORnext asked the Under-Secretary for India whether, in the Lakher or Mora clan, which is partly under British rule, the purchase and sale of slaves, not only by chiefs but by others, is permitted and recognised; and how long the Government proposes to legalise this traffic in human beings?
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Mr. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that any recognition has been given by Government to the sale of slaves among such of the Lakher as reside in British territory, but if the hon. Member has information to the contrary, the Secretary of State will consider it.
Mr. CHANCELLORnext asked whether, seeing that the right to ransom is allowed and that ransom is impossible to slaves who have no property in their own earnings, except what their owners permit them to retain, the Indian Government will provide the small sum of 40 rupees per family necessary to emancipate slaves within their territory, or, if not, will he use for that purpose any sum subscribed, and thereafter make the holding of His Majesty's subjects in a state of bondage a penal offence?
Mr. ROBERTSIf by "slaves" the hon. Member means "bawi" in the Lushai Hills, he is quite wrong in supposing that they have no property in their own earnings.
Mr. CHANCELLORalso asked whether and when the Report by the Indian Government on the boi system in the Lushai Hills will be laid upon the Table of the House?
Mr. ROBERTSI will place a copy of the Government of India's letter, with enclosures, in the Library. It is not proposed to present Papers at present.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary for India whether the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown has been obtained upon the principles published in the "Golenad," of 26th May, 1914, as modifying the boi system and making it unobjectionable; and, if not, whether their opinion will be obtained and communicated to the House before any official approval is given to those principles?
Mr. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State has not considered it necessary to take the opinion of the Law Officers on the principles recently laid down by the Assam Government for dealing with the incidents of what is known as the "bawi" system of the Lushai Hills