Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in all Crown Colonies and Protectorates to which Indian labourers are admitted under indenture, it is a condition that Indians who have completed their indenture shall be in all respects free men, subject to no labour ordinances and with personal and civic rights in no way inferior to those of any other class of people resident in the Colony or Protectorate; and whether encouragement is held out to them to become peasant proprietors of agricultural land and holdings?
Mr. HARCOURTThe reply to both parts of the hon. Member's question is an affirmative one. The Committee which reported on emigration from India to the Crown Colonies laid down the general principle that immigration under indenture for private employers should be permitted only to such Colonies as offer an opportunity to the time-expired immigrant to settle in an independent capacity on the land. See paragraph 102 of Cd. 5192.