J. S. Bowskill and several of his native helpers; if so, when will particulars be available; and what steps he has taken or is taking in the matter?

Sir E. GREY: Mr. Vice-Consul Bell's report is still under consideration. and I cannot make any statement on the subject at present. I will inform my hon. Friend as soon as a decision has been reached.

SOUTHERN RHODESIA (OWNERSHIP OF LAND).

July 23.

Mr. HOLT asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a reference to the Privy Council is about to be made for consideration and report upon the ownership of land in Southern Rhodesia; and, if so, whether he will lay the terms of reference upon the Table?

Mr. HARCOURT: Yes, Sir.

July 27.

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he intends to make any statement on Tuesday with regard to his reference of the ownership of unalienated land in Rhodesia to the Privy Council, and to any action that can be taken by him in connexion with the administrative provisions in the charter of the British South Africa Company in October next?

Mr. HARCOURT: I am laying Papers which will give information with regard to the Reference to the Privy Council, and I do not think that, pending the decision of the Judicial Committee, I can usefully discuss that question. As at present advised, I do not think that I shall be able to make a statement with regard to the Charter on the Colonial Office Vote.

Mr. PARKER asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether the Provincial Courts in Nigeria presided over by executive officers would have jurisdiction over civil proceedings between the Government and natives?

Mr. HARCOURT: No, sir. Suits by or against the Government will remain within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

July 30.

Mr. BARNES asked whether 107 prisoners were found to be detained in the prison in Northern Nigeria without any record being found of any conviction against them, and that they had to be released; and, if so, how long these prisoners had been detained?

Mr. HARCOURT: I have no information as to this alleged illegal detention of prisoners. If the hon. Member can give me any evidence of the occurrence of such cases, I will ask the Nigerian Government for a report upon them.

Mr. THOMAS RICHARDSON asked what section of the Provincial Courts Ordinance provides for the case of civil suits between the Government and the natives of Nigeria?

Mr. HARCOURT: This is provided for by a separate Ordinance-Chapter 7 of the Laws of Southern Nigeria.

Mr. THOMAS RICHARDSON asked whether the Protectorate of Nigeria, with the exception of certain small areas not yet brought under British Government control, is in a state of unbroken peace and tranquillity; and, if so, why the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court should not be extended to the whole Protectorate with the exception of the disturbed areas?

Mr. HARCOURT: The satisfactory state of peace and tranquillity does not demand the extension to the more backward territories of Nigeria of a system which has been shown to be manifestly unsuited to them, and to cause great delays and many abuses.

Mr. JOWETT asked if the Nigerian Provincial Courts Ordinance is passed will there be any provision that a native accused of a crime involving a sentence of death or penal servitude will be entitled as of right to demand to be tried by a judge of the Supreme Court with a jury and assessors ?

Mr. HARCOURT: No such provision is contained in the Ordinance. The provisions for transfer of cases to the Supreme Court and those requiring the confirmation of the Governor in the case of the heavier penalties are considered sufficient.

Mr. JOWETT asked if the Nigerian Provincial Courts Ordinance is passed will there be any provision that actions by or against a native wherein the Government is interested shall, on the request of the native or the Government, be tried by the Supreme Court, and not a Provincial Court presided over by an executive officer?

Mr. HARCOURT: Suits by or against the Government will remain within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Mr. JOWETT asked whether, considering the Supreme Court of Southern Nigeria has had jurisdiction over the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria for fourteen years, there is any urgency in the proposed legal changes; and whether the matter will be allowed to stand over till the wishes of the suitors and inhabitants could be taken and a Committee publicly inquire into the matter of the proposed changes?

Mr. HARCOURT: It is only of recent years that the administration has been extended to large districts in the interior, to which the machinery of the Supreme Court has been found unsuitable. As I have already explained, the jurisdiction of the Court remains as before in the Colony and the principal centres of trade. There is no reason to delay the proposed

legislation, which is advocated by all those who have adequate knowledge and experience.

Mr. PARKER asked whether the Supreme Court of Northern Nigeria did not try any criminal and only one civil cause during the fourteen years of its existence; and, if not, how many civil and criminal cases have been tried during that period?

Mr. HARCOURT: I am not in a position to give this information without reference to the Governor-General of Nigeria. I will ask him for a report.

New Hebrides.

THE subject of the New Hebrides was brought up in Parliament in the Debate on the Foreign Office Vote in July. Sir Gilbert Parker complained of the lack of reports for eight years and suggested that the real reason was that the publication of the reports would have shown too serious a condition of things. Sir Edward Grey in his reply did not dispute that the working of the Condominium in the New Hebrides had not been at all satisfactory and that certain alterations in the administration were essential. As regards the publication of reports, he was prepared to contend that they had better make a fresh start and not publish reports received hitherto. It was impossible definitely to say that such agreement had been reached as would secure that abuses would be prevented for the future. The publication of papers would, he feared, lead to bickering and friction between the two Governments. The first and most essential thing was to keep within sight of an agreement.

Mr. William Redmond a little later asked when the result of the conference might be expected, and what the position of the Australian Government would be; would they be consulted before any French arrangement is made? Sir Edward Grey only replied to this generally that they would keep in close touch with the Government of Australia, but he could not say when the conference would be finished.

Mrs. Harris' Lectures.

THE quarterly Bulletin of the Swiss League for the protection of natives gives a full account of Mrs. Harris' visit to German Switzerland in March last, and of the addresses which she gave at Berne, Basle and Zurich. In each of these places successful meetings were held and considerable interest was aroused. In Basle the ground had been prepared for years past by the energy of Dr. Christ-Socin, and the public meeting was so crowded that many had to be turned away for lack of room. Two other meetings of a more private character were held, one at the house of Mme. Sarasin-Bischoff and another a Missionsstunde, organized by the well-known Basle Mission.

In Zurich fresh ground was opened, as the Swiss League had but few adherents in that city, but at both the meetings which were held the subject of anti-slavery and the cause of native races proved of great interest to those who heard Mrs. Harris and saw the lantern slides of photographs which she had taken in the Congo. These, in the words of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, "constitute documents of the first importance from the ethnographical point of view." The same newspaper referred to the "sustained interest" with which her audience followed Mrs. Harris' account, "which she gave in as simple and natural a manner as though she were speaking of an every-day experience."

'It will seem almost impossible," it continued, that a woman's strength could have borne the fatigues and dangers of a journey of over 5,000 miles on foot and in canoe, and we must admire not only the strength and energy which were called for by such an undertaking, but also the tact and kindness which she displayed in a country where the white man inspires fear and hatred in such sort as to arouse confidence and to gain for herself the friendship of the natives. Truly such a woman deserves honour and admiration."

Putumayo Criminals.

WE are glad to publish the following letter received from the Bolivian Minister, Colonel Don Pedro Suarez, in regard to two of the criminals who were concerned in the outrages on the Putumayo:

DEAR SIR,

LEGACIÓN DE BOLIVIA, LONDRES,
September 9, 1914.

With reference to correspondence, etc., that passed between us some time ago I now have the pleasure of informing you that the Peruvians Abelardo Aguero and Augusto Jiménez who were working in the Beni Rubber district on the properties of Messrs. Suarez Hermanos & Co. have been arrested by orders of my Government and handed to the Peruvian authorities at Maldonado. Victor Macedo, it appears, had previously left the Bolivian territory.

I am, dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,

PEDRO SUAREZ.

Review.

THE UPPER REACHES OF THE AMAZON,

By JOSEPH F. WOODROFFE.*

The author of this book put himself into communication with the AntiSlavery Society soon after his return from South America last year, and gave us valuable information as to the labour conditions in that continent, of which we made public use. We welcome this book, which throws much light on the rubber industry, and on the peonage system on the Amazon generally *Methuen & Co., Ltd.

and the real slavery which it entails, not only for the Indian labourer, but also, as the writer of the preface points out, for the white man employed by the companies operating there, who is "cunningly enmeshed in debt by his

employers," and "a slave in every sense of the word." These companies are financed largely by British capital. The author was himself a victim of this horrible system.

Mr. Woodroffe had many adventures and varied experiences as a trader