§ Mr. BLACKasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state what are the minimum wages paid to the Chinese labourers on the island of Nauru per hour how many hours per week such labourers work under the three years' agreement: whether the hours are longer under the three years' agreement than under the agreement made. with them in China before they leave for Nauru; whether there is an arbitration board to settle differences arising as to piecework rates of wages; whether the labourers have representation upon such a board; whether they have an effective voice in determining the wages that are to be paid; whether the contract can be terminated on three months' notice to the labourer whilst the labourer is compelled to complete the three years' service; whether he is liable to be compelled to work on any or all of the six days' holiday in case of emergency whether the shortage of houses precludes the Chinese 905W from bringing over their wives, for whose residence there is no prevision made; whether it can be stated what the proportion of Chinese women to Chinese labourers is on the island; and whether definite and suitable arrangements can be offered in the agreements to all Chinese labourers, enabling them to take their wives with them if they so desire?
§ Mr. LUNNThe hon. Member appears to be under some misapprehension as to the position. As the House has been informed on several occasions, no agreement is signed by Chinese before entering Nauru. The minimum wages are as stated in my reply to the hon. Member of the 17th of March, and the other conditions are as stated in the agreements in the Library, with the modification referred to in my reply of the 10th of March to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Dr. Chapple): but the hours have now been reduced in practice to 49½ per week for mechanics and 54 per week for coolies and boatmen. There is no arbitration board. I am informed that there is no shortage of houses; the difficulty which arises in regard to wives is of a different character, as will be seen from the answer given to the hon. Member on the 18th of February. There was one Chinese woman on the island last February. The question of any alteration in the forms of agreement is for the Australian Government.