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3. Mr. Harcourt trusts that in considering the questions now under discussion you will bear in mind the importance of avoiding heavy capital expenditure so far as it may be possible to do so.

4. It would, as Mr. Marsden suggests, be well to ascertain how many emigrants have been recruited during the last three years from the districts to which it is proposed to restrict recruiting and how many have been drawn from other districts: but your reply should not be delayed for the completion of such a return.

I am, &c.,

HENRY LAMBERT,

101

explained to them, and they are at liberty to withdraw if they wish. The system of indenture imposes obligations and confers rights both on employer and labourer. The penalties which either employer or labourer incurs for violation of the terms are set out in the agreement which the emigrant signs. impressed by the independent evidence as to the care and consideration with which The Committee were employers generally treat their Indian labourers, but made a series of recommenda- tions which are receiving careful consideration. The honourable member uncon- sciously suggests a false analogy when he speaks of indentured emigrants as being

deported from India.

for the Under-Secretary of State.

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28307

SIR,

No. 66.

INDIA OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 7 September, 1912.)

[Answered by No. 70.]

India Office, Whitehall, London, S.W., 6th September, 1912.

I AM directed by the Marquess of Crewe to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Read's letter of the 29th ultimo (July], No. 21039,* regarding a suggestion made by the Government of India as to the alteration of the form of contract for indentured emigrants.

In this connection I am to enclose, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, a copy of an answer returned to a question in the House of Commons on the 25th July.

His Lordship agrees with Mr. Harcourt that it would not be fair to draw the special attention of intending emigrants to the penalties which they may incur without making it equally clear that their employers are liable to penalties for breach of contract. The object to be secured is that the labourer should understand clearly that he is engaging to do a fair day's work for a fair wage, and not to leave the plantation without permission; that if he fulfils his engagement he will not be subject to penalties; and that Government will ensure that the employers shall fulfil their promises in turn.

His Lordship has therefore requested the Government of India by telegraph to postpone any action as regards the alteration of the form of contract until the question has been fully discussed; and he is communicating to them the present correspondence,

He desires to take this opportunity of informing Mr. Harcourt that the Govern- ment of India propose to depute a senior officer of the Indian Civil Service (Mr. J. McNeill, Senior Collector, Bombay), and a non-official Indian gentleman (not yet selected) to visit British Guiana, Trinidad. Jamaica, and Fiji, as suggested by Mr. Harcourt.

I have, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 66.

Indentured Labour.

R. RITCHIE.

Mr. DOUGLAS HALL asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that indentured labourers recruited in India are not informed of the penal code to which they will be subject in order to get the maximum amount of work out of them when once deported from India; and if he will say whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent labourers being recruited under such conditions in future?

Mr. MONTAGU: If the honourable member will refer to the Report of the Com- mittee on Emigration from India presented to Parliament in 1910, he will see that emigrants are brought to a magistrate's office, where the emigration agreement is read to them, and, if they assent, is executed. They then proceed from their district to the depôt at Calcutta or Madras, where the conditions of service are again

No. 59.

No. 67.

GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION AGENT AT CALCUTTA FOR BRITISH GUIANA to COLONIAL OFFICE.

SIR,

(Received September 9, 1912.)

British Guiana Government Emigration Agency,

61, Garden Reach, Calcutta, 22nd August, 1912.

I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State, the enclosed copies of correspondence (marginally noted) that has recently passed

Government of India (Department of Com- merce and Industry) to Government of Bengal, No. 3891-58, dated 16th May, 1912.

Government of Bengal (General Depart- ment) 10 Protector of Emigrants, daterl

19th June, 1912.

Protector of Emigrants, Calcutta, to Emigra- tion Agents for British Guiana and Trinidad, &c., dated 28th June, 1912.

Emigration Agent to Protector of Emigrants, No. 1918/2607, dated 21st August, 1912.

I have, &c.,

between

the Indian Government, the Government of Bengal, and myself with reference to-

(a) A suggested alteration in the manner of remunerating recruiters (sub-agents) for emigrants recruited under indenture for these Agencies; and

(b) A proposed limitation of the

Agencies' recruiting area.

R. P. GIBBES,

Government Emigration Agent

Enclosure 1 in No. 67.

for British Guiana.

The SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA to the SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL, General Department. (No. 3894-58.)

SIR.

Department of Commerce and Industry,

Despatch from the Secretary of State, No. 166 (Public), dated the 9th December, 1910, and enclosures.

Letter from the India Office, No. J. & P. 167, dated the 16th January, 1911, and enclosures.

Simla, the 16th May, 1912.

WITH reference to the Report of the Committee on Emigration from India to the Grown Colonies and Protectorates, copies of which have, it is understood, been received by the Government of Bengal, I am directed to forward copy of the corres- Letter from India Office, No. J. & P. 716, pondence noted in the margin which has taken place between the Government of India and His Majesty's Secretary of State for India on certain matters arising out of the Report.

dated the 15th March, 1911, and enclosure.

Letter from India Office, No. J. & P. 746, dated the 6th April, 1911.

Despatch from the Secretary of State, No. 66 Public, dated the 7th April, 1911, and enclosures.

Despatch to Secretary of State, No. 30, dated the 25th May, 1911, and enclosures.

Despatch from Secretary of State, No. 68 Public, dated the 12th April, 1912, and enclosures.

2. The Government of India desire at the present stage to consult the Govern- ment of Bengal in regard to the questions connected with the limitation of the area of recruitment and the system of payment of recruiters which have been raised in the correspondence. With reference to the first question, I am to invite a reference to paragraphs 76 and 77 of the Report of the Committee, to paragraph 14 of the despatch of the Government of India, No. 30, dated the 25th May, 1911, and to

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