Dr. CHAPPLE asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will give facilities to the Slavery, Peonage, and Forced Labour Bill?

The PRIME MINISTER: While I feel I do not see my way to afford facilities for the large Bill referred to, the Government are fully aware of the importance of the subject with which it deals, and are giving it careful attention.

NORTHERN NIGERIA (REX v. NICHOLS).

May II.

MR. POINTER asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention had been drawn to the case of Rex v. Nichols, in Northern Nigeria; whether Mr. J. F. J. Fitzpatrick, the assistant resident magistrate, arrested the prisoner and conducted the prosecution in his own Court, where he was sitting as a judge; whether the accused was fined £5, with twentyfour lashes in the market-place, and, in addition, got six months' hard labour; whether he was flogged in the market-place, Loko, at twelve noon on the day of conviction, then taken a three days' journey to Rumasha and flogged again in the market-place, and afterwards taken an eight days' journey to Keffi and flogged for the third time, and afterwards put in prison to serve his sentence; and, if so, what action is he taking or does he intend to take? MR. HARCOURT: I have no information, but will make inquiry.

TRINIDAD (PROTECTOR OF IMMIGRANTS).

May 19.

MR. POINTER asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Protector of Immigrants in Trinidad is about to retire; whether this gentleman stated before Lord Sanderson's Commission that scarcely any complaints were made to him by coolies; and whether, in filling the position vacated by this gentleman, he will endeavour to secure an official in whom the coolies would have confidence?

MR. HARCOURT: I have received no information as to the date at which the Protector of Immigrants will retire, though in view of his age he will no doubt do so before very long. My hon. Friend no doubt refers to Commander Coombs' statement that complaints by coolies grew less and less every year, a gratifying testimony to the general contentment of the immigrant population of the Colony, which I hope his successor may be able to confirm.

NATIVE LABOUR COMMISSION.

May 12.

MR. WEDGWOOD asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has seen the suggestion made by Mr. Couper before the Native

Labour Commission that, in order to get forced labour and at the same time get round the difficulty which might be made by the Colonial Office, he would suggest that the forcing of the natives to work be termed forced education; and whether he will watch in future the educational proposals of the East African Government, with a view to preventing the introduction of slavery under any such term!

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (MR. HARCOURT): I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on May 7.

MR. WEDGWOOD: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in regard to the latter part of the question, whether he will "watch in future the educational proposals of the East African Government, with a view to preventing the introduction of slavery under any such term "?

MR. HARCOURT: I shall certainly watch the educational proposals, and take care that in their being carried into effect there shall be no forced labour of any kind.

MR. WEDGWOOD asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the evidence of Mr. J. Boyes before the Native Labour Commission to the effect that natives were deteriorating through not being made to work, and suggesting that the District Commissioners should be able to order the natives to work, and should be empowered to give twenty-five lashes if they refused to work; and will he say whether this gentleman holds any official position in East Africa?

MR. HARCOURT: Yes, Sir. The gentleman in question does not hold any official position.

SIERRA LEONE NURSING HOME.

May 20.

Mr. MACCALLUM SCOTT asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Manchester Chamber of Commerce has appealed to the Governor of Sierra Leone requesting that Europeans entering the nursing home may continue to enjoy the services of their own medical attendant, whether native or European; and can he say what reply has been sent to this request?

Mr. HARCOURT: I do not know what reply has finally been returned by the Governor of Sierra Leone to the letter from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce to which my hon. Friend refers; but I have decided that the native medical practitioner to whose case the Chamber of Commerce specially referred shall continue to be allowed the same facilities for attending his patients in the nursing home that he has hitherto enjoyed, subject to the privilege being liable to be withdrawn at any time for good cause shown.

THE NATIVE IN PARLIAMENT.

By Our Parliamentary Correspondent.

THE important bearing of " questions and answers" in the House upon the treatment of native races has received emphatic demonstration during recent months. Beyond doubt, the sustained and well-informed series of questions upon the deplorable position in the New Hebrides has played no small part in securing the Anglo-French Conference, which is now sitting at Downing Street. I had the good fortune to be present last month at the Society's deputation to Sir Edward Grey and Mr. Harcourt-a deputation which Sir Edward pointed out was a very opportune one. It was very gratifying to observe the evident respect with which the Society's recommendations are received by the Government. Whilst the Conference is discussing the New Hebrides question the whole matter is sub judice, and further comment is therefore prohibited.

The Prime Minister replied on May 7 to a question of capital importance to the Society. Dr. Chapple had asked whether the Government would give facilities to the new Slavery Bill, a reference to a Bill inspired by the Hon. and Rev. W. E. Bowen. Mr. Asquith replied that the Government did not see its way to give facilities to the Bill in question, but is giving the subject careful attention. The Bill of the Putumayo Committee is, I am told, still in the hands of the law Officers of the Crown, and is regarded favourably in many quarters. There is, I believe, good reason to anticipate that the Bill will find its way upon the Statute Book. Unfortunately for the Society, the appointment of Mr. Charles Roberts to the India Office has robbed the Society of one of its very efficient Chairmen ; but with the appointment of a successor to Mr. Roberts, it is anticipated that the new Anti-Slavery Bill will be pushed forward vigorously.

The persistence of Mr. MacCallum Scott with regard to the Sierra Leone Nursing Home has been rewarded. It was proposed to close this home against native medical men, no matter what their qualifications; but, as will be seen from Mr. Harcourt's answer on May 30, Dr. Renner, whose qualifications are well known throughout West Africa, is to be allowed the same facilities as heretofore. This, of course, does not touch the main question, namely, that all government-supported medical institutions should be open to men of good character and qualifications, without respect to colour.

The preposterous suggestions now being made in British East Africa for forcing an adequate labour supply, would, if permitted, switch back to slavery the administration of the Protectorate. The copy of the Society's appeal to Mr. Harcourt was circulated through the House at a most opportune moment. Several questions have been put to Mr. Harcourt and we shall certainly hear a great deal more about this subject during the next few

weeks. There is no doubt that it will find a large place when the Colonial Office vote comes up for discussion towards the end of this month. The appeal to Mr. Harcourt to declare that in his opinion forced labour for private profit is slavery can hardly fail to secure an answer both timely and satisfactory. Members of the House are watching closely anything in the nature of "land grabbing," and the intentions and proposals of certain planters in British East Africa will be scrutinized with close attention in the future, owing to the revelations made in the report recently published by the Protectorate Government.

South African Mative Land Act.

THE deputation from the natives of the Union, which has come to this country in order to appeal to the King against the operations of the recent Native Land Act, arrived in London in June. The Revs. J. L. Dube (President of the Native National Congress) and W. B. Rubusana called at the Society's office immediately on their arrival, and asked for its help in endeavouring to see the Colonial Secretary. The other members of the deputation who arrived a few days later are: Mr. Saul Msane, Mr. Sol Plaatje and Mr. T. M. Mapil ela.

A letter was received from the newly-formed South African Society at Cape Town introducing the deputation-who had had an interview with their Committee before leaving Africa-and urging our Society to enable the deputation to make representations to the Government. They believe the deputation to represent the great majority of the natives in the Union whose attitude is "almost invariably strongly hostile" to the Act.

Our Society approached the Colonial Office asking if Mr. Harcourt would receive the deputation at an early date, and appointed a Sub-Committee to meet Mr. Dube and Dr. Rubusana to consider their case. As a result, the following letter was addressed to the Colonial Secretary on behalf of the Society :

TO THE RIGHT HON. LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.

June 10, 1914.

SIR,

In reference to my letter of the 3rd instant regarding a deputation which has arrived in this country from South Africa to approach the Government with regard to the effect of the Native Land Act, I am directed by my Committee to inform you that a long letter has been received from the newlyformed South African Society in Cape Town on this subject. I may state that this Association was formed about six months ago to consider native questions, and has as its President, Senator Colonel Stanford; amongst its

members are Mr. Theo. Schreiner, Mr. Alexander, M. L. A., the Rev. Saul Solomon, Miss Schreiner, Rev. G. Robson, and Mr. Arnold Wynne, M.A., the Honorary Secretary. (We understand that Col. Stanford, as being a member of the Land Commission, felt himself precluded from taking part in the interview with the native deputation.) This appeal from the South African Society is addressed to our Committee after hearing statements from the deputation, which are confirmed by resolutions of various European Church Congresses petitioning the Union Government against the terms of the Act.

The Secretary of the South African Society, in introducing to our Society the members of the native deputation, which consists of the Rev. J. L. Dube, Dr. Rubusana, Mr. Saul Msane, Mr. Sol Plaatje and others, states that they are fully informed on good evidence that this deputation represents the large majority of the natives. The Committee suggests to our Society that they should ask the Colonial Office to urge the Union Government to secure for the natives a fair quid pro quo for the loss of their former rights of land purchase, and that this quid pro quo should include an extension of the native areas scheduled in the Act, sufficient for the needs of a rapidly increasing native population. They further submit that the need for some action is imperative and urgent; that the present state of affairs has already caused much hardship, and must, if allowed to continue, give rise to serious consequences, both to natives and Europeans in South Africa.

In addition our Society would draw your attention to the reply of the Prime Minister of the Union to a petition from Mr. Dube, stating that “it is the intention of Government to make full legislative provision for such gradual expropriation of lands owned by Europeans within defined Native areas as may from time to time be necessary, for the settlement of Natives on such lands under a regularized system, for the acquisition of land by Natives within such areas, for the gradual extension of the system of individual tenure wherever the Natives are sufficiently advanced to appreciate its advantages and for the good government of and the local administration of affairs in Native areas by means of Native Councils and otherwise." Since legislation to give effect to these promises cannot be introduced until the Land Commission has reported, we urge that measures should be taken to secure the presentation of that report at as early a date as possible.

I am, etc.,

TRAVERS BUXTON,
Secretary.

In the meantime, a letter had been received from the Colonial Office stating that Mr. Harcourt would reserve his decision as to receiving them and asking for a memorandum of the points they wished to discuss. We understand that this has been duly forwarded to him. Mr. Harcourt made it clear that the Union Government had already been informed that the King would not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance in respect of the Act.