14. 0. A.G. Conf
16.5.28
Resruitment of immigrant farmer for
Spanish Gunia.
In accordance with the arrangements
suggested in the despatch of the 9th November 1927
(No.6 on 30081/27), this, being an application
1
Liluated
6
in respect of foreign possession not constituted in
the East Indies, has been referred to the S. of S.
The 0.A.G. simply asks for instructions and makes
no recommendation.
The Colonial Secretary's letter of the
2nd May (enclosure No.3 of the despatch) points out
that the conditions as drafted are not satisfactory.
The emigration of indentured labour from Hong Kong
labourer is not allowed, i.e. when a/leaves the Colony he
must not be under any contract whatever to labour
when he arrives at his destination. As was agreed
in the previous discussions, the type of assisted
labour in which the emigrants signed contracts not
before departure but immediately on arrival in the
country to which they are going. is hardly
? indentured distinguishable in practice from independent labour
but it is not technically the same and would,
therefore, probably escape criticism.
Apart from
this point the conditions do not show clearly what
the laborer might expect to earn in Spanish Guinea
and it would probably be difficult to get any exact
information owing to the nature of the remuneration
promised, which is to consist of a proportion,
probably one half, of the produce of the land worked.
If permission is granted I should think it would be wise to insist on some minimum wage being guaranteed.
Apart