§ Mr. G. HALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the result of 892W the inquiry addressed to the Government of India in regard to the Madras Planters' Labour Act?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe position is that the Government of Madras have appointed a committee to consider the question of the repeal of the penal provisions of the Act, but my Noble Friend has not yet received a copy of the committee's report.
§ Mr. HALLasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will inform the House of the number of criminal proceedings taken against plantation coolies and maistries for breach of contract under the Madras Planters' Labour Act during the last year in the Wynad Taluk and the Nilgiris, and what proportion of these proceedings in the Wynad Taluk wee taken by Europeans?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe number of cases of such criminal proceedings in 1925 against plantation labourers and maistries was 1,083 and 101 respectively in the Wynad Taluk and 1,875 and 108 respectively in the Nilgiris. In the Wynad Taluk, where Europeans hold 94 per cent. of the area included in estates, 92 par cent. of the total proceedings were taken by Europeans.