CO885-(20-21) — Page 432

Subject.

Page.

Report of medical board on Indian im- 287

migrants arriving in s.. "Indus."

CORRESPONDENCE

RELATING TO THE

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EMIGRATION FROM INDIA TO THE CROWN COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES.

2

Drs. W. D. Neish and G. H. K. Ross to

Jamaica

1913.

January 15 (Rec. Mar. 10.)

the Superintend-

ing Medical Officer.

12518

3

The Protector of Im-

Jamaica

migrants to the

March 6 |(Rec. April 5.)

Reports on condition of East Indian im- migrants arriving in the s.s." Mutlah.”

288

Colonial

Secre-

tary.

The Governor

4

5

Ditto

Jamaica, 136.

No. 1. FIJI.

British March 25 Guiana, (Rec. April 15.)

69.

April 21 (Rec. May 9.) |

Forwards a table showing the percentage289

of East Indian immigrants found to be suffering from ankylostomiasis on arrival during the period 1907–1913, and invites attention to the desirability of only employing as Surgeons Super- intendent on immigrant ships men who have taken a course at one of the Schools of Tropical Medicine.

Transmits a copy of a report by the Health Officer at Port Royal on the thymol treatment for hookworm of East Indian immigrants arriving on the s.s. “Indus" and the s.8. "Mutlah.”

291

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNOR. [Answered by No. 16.]

(No. 163.)

SIR,

I HAVE had under my consideration the report of the Committee on Emigra-

Downing Street, 27 August, 1910. tion from India to the Crown Colonies and Protectorates,* a copy of which has already been communicated to you in my circular despatch of the 4th of July.†

2. I have noted with satisfaction the terms in which the Committee refer to the good results of the introduction of indentured labour into Fiji; but, as you will, no doubt, have realised in reading the report, there are some respects in which the operation of the Fiji Immigration Law appears to be open to improvement.

3. I have had before me a suggestion that the term of indenture might be reduced below the five years at present in force; and while I have not found myself able to accept this suggestion, I should be glad if you would consider whether it might not be possible to adopt in Fiji provisions similar to those which exist in Trinidad, and to which the Committee refer in the 268th paragraph of their report, whereby a labourer who is shown by the books of the estate to have earned a certain sum is entitled to a certificate of exemption from labour before the date on which his indenture would otherwise expire.

4. The Committee have drawn attention, in paragraphs 360-362 and 416 of their report, to the large number of prosecutions and convictions of labourers for breaches of the labour law in Fiji. I shall be glad the enquiry into the matter which they suggest can be at once instituted, and I am confident that the employers will co-operate with the Government in taking steps to amend what is clearly a blot on the system. I shall expect to receive your recommendations on the subject in due course.

5. I observe (paragraph 353) that the law makes it obligatory upon the magis trate, when an indentured labourer is convicted for absence from work or desertion, to make an order for the extension of the period of indenture proportionate to the time lost to the employer by reason of the proceedings and sentence. I am clearly of opinion that a discretion should be left to the magistrate in the matter, and unless you see serious objection the law should be amended in this sense.

6. The question of re-indenture, which is still permitted in Fiji, is dealt with in paragraphs 423-6 of the Report. I fully agree with the view of the Committee that the arguments which justify a system of indentured labour do not apply to a continuance of the contract beyond its original term, and I shall be glad if you will take early steps to arrange for carrying into effect their recommendation that the duration of such fresh contracts should at once be limited to twelve months, and that the practice of re-indenture should be abolished altogether within a reasonable time. 7. Early consideration should be given to the recommendations of the Com- mittee in paragraph 427 of their Report on the subject of the limitation of the hours of work for children and the care of their education. Sir E. im Thurn referred in his evidence before the Committee (question 2242) to the Commission which he had appointed to consider the question of education in Fiji. I hope that this question of the education of the children of indentured labourers may have been dealt with in the report, which has not yet reached me.

I have, &c.,

33891

[Cd. 5192], June, 1910.

CREWE.

† 12518: not printed.

A

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TEL C.O. 885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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