§ Mr. CAMPBELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will bring to the notice of the Colonial Governors concerned the fact that coloured seamen are coming over to this country from their territories, deserting and finding it impossible to obtain a livelihood here, so that they have to be re-shipped home at the expense of the Colonies from which they come; and whether he will instruct the different Governments to restrict the engaging of coloured seamen by the shipping companies to such an extent as will reduce the likelihood of such desertions?
§ Mr. LUNNI have been asked to take this question. This matter has been the subject of correspondence with the Colonial Governments from time to time, extending over a long period, but it has not been possible as yet to make any better arrangement than that referred to in the hon. Member's question under which the cost of repatriating distressed seamen to the territories to which they belong is recovered from the Governments of the territories concerned. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies fears that no advantage would ensue from making further representations to the Colonial Governments in the matter at the present time, and he would not feel justified in suggesting that Colonial Governments should place restrictions on coloured seamen following their vocation at sea.