LIBERIA.

Ist November.

Mr. MANDER asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the proposed inquiry into slavery and forced labour in Liberia; and whether it is proposed to offer to place at the disposal of any such commission of inquiry any information which may be available along the British Protectorate of the Sierra Leone-Liberian border in the possession of the Secretary of State?

Mr. LUNN: The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. I am not aware that the commission has yet been appointed, but I feel sure that any request from the commission for information of the nature indicated in the second part of the question would be favourably considered by my Noble Friend, though I do not suppose that much information will be available.

NATIVES AND INDIANS.

6th November.

Colonel WEDGWOOD asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received a communication from the Kikuyu Central Association; and why Sir Samuel Wilson, when inquiring in Kenya, did not inquire as to the native or Indian point of view?

Mr. LUNN: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The suggestion that Sir Samuel Wilson did not inquire as to the Indian point of view in Kenya is not understood, and I would refer my hon, and gallant Friend to Sir Samuel Wilson's Report, more particularly pages 24 and 25. As to the native point of view, Sir Samuel Wilson took the opportunity of discussing matters with the Acting Chief Native Commissioner, missionaries and others well acquainted with native affairs. Only in one case did he refuse to interview any native delegation. In that case, he had already received in writing the views of the body in question, a body which is not recognised by the Government of Kenya as representative of the tribe for which it claims to speak, and he did in fact interview another delegation representing the same tribe.

Colonel WEDGWOOD: Are we to understand that Sir Samuel Wilson has received the deputation from the Indian Congress?

Mr. LUNN: I think it is quite clear that he did.

KENYA CRIME.

Rear-Admiral BEAMISH asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will provide particulars as to the growth or otherwise of crimes committed against the person of white people in Kenya Colony; and if he is satisfied that the measures for the prevention of such crimes are adequate?

Mr. LUNN: Figures are not available in this country to show the number of crimes against the person of white people in Kenya as distinct

from those committed against other races. In the year 1928, however, the total number of serious offences against the person reported, under the heading Murder, Attempted Murder and Culpable Homicide in settled and urban areas was only thirty-eight. Of this number, thirty-four cases were brought for trial before Court and twenty-three resulted in convictions. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

Rear-Admiral BEAMISH: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that serious anxiety exists in the minds of the white population of the Kenya Colony in consequence of the constant recurrence of such crimes?

Colonel WEDGWOOD: Is the hon. Gentleman also aware that the women and children are in danger in Kenya to-day, just as in Johannesburg thirty years ago?

Mr. HOLFORD KNIGHT: Can the hon. Gentleman assure us that there is no colour discrimination in the administration of justice in these territories?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY: Has the hon. Gentleman any evidence to show that there is actually any increase in crimes against white persons in these Colonies?

Mr. LUNN: I do not think there is any increase. I think it is on the decrease.

Rear-Admiral BEAMISH asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give information concerning the trial of the natives who murdered Mr. Kenyon in the Thompson Falls district of Kenya Colony; and whether he has received proposals for the introduction of a system of communal fines to check the increase of crime against the person?

Mr. LUNN: A report on the circumstances of this case has been called for from the Governor of Kenya, but this has not yet been received. As regards the second part of the question, there is already a Collective Punishment Ordinance in Kenya, and I will send a copy of this to the hon. and gallant Member for his perusal if he so desires.

CEYLON (FRANCHISE).

6th November.

Colonel WEDGWOOD asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give an estimate as to the number of Indian coolies in Ceylon who are to be deprived of the proposed franchise by the modification His Majesty's Government have made in the Donoughmore Report: and why this modification was made?

Mr. LUNN: I cannot give a closer estimate than that contained in the Report of the Special Commission, namely, that some 40 to 50 per cent. of the Indians in Ceylon are permanent residents, and would therefore be entitled to the franchise, if otherwise qualified, under the proposals of His Majesty's Government. The reasons for the departure from the recommendations of the Special Commission are fully explained by the

Governor in the correspondence recently presented to Parliament, and my Noble Friend has concurred in the Governor's views on this point.

Colonel WEDGWOOD: Is my hon. Friend aware that the entire coolie population are excluded from the franchise, although they were included in the Donoughmore Report, and can he say why a Labour Government have acted in this manner in face of a Report by a Conservative Commission?

Mr. LUNN: I should hope that that is not so, and that the Labour Government have not taken a course which may even be implied to have such a serious effect.

Colonel WEDGWOOD: But my hon. Friend is surely aware that this modification has excluded the most helpless part of the working population of Ceylon?

Mr. SKELTON: Has the hon. Gentleman made himself familiar with the correspondence which has been referred to?

Mr. LUNN: I do not see that I am called upon to answer questions not on the Order Paper.

KENYA RAIDS.

13th November.

Sir ROBERT HAMILTON asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received from the Government of Kenya Colony Reports upon the raids made into that Colony by Abyssinian raiders; and if it is proposed to publish such Reports in this country? Mr. LUNN: The answer is a very long one, and with my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Sir R. HAMILTON: Does the answer contain full Reports of the various raids?

Mr. LUNN: That is my intention.

Following is the answer:

I presume that the hon. Member has in mind the raids into Kenya, west of Lake Rudolf, which were referred to in his question of the 10th July. Two such raids have been notified during the present year, and each has formed the subject of a Report by the Government of Kenya to the Secretary of State. The former was a raid by Marille tribesmen in March along the western shore of Lake Rudolf, some twenty-five miles south of the Kenya-Sudan frontier, and the latter a raid in May by Marille and Donyiro tribesmen at Lorumu, just south of the Kenya-Sudan frontier, approximately forty miles west of Lake Rudolf. In both cases the raiding parties were followed and engaged by patrols of the King's African Rifles, and severely handled. As regards publication, a list of raids from Abyssinian territory into Kenya between 1916 and 1928 was published last year as Command Paper 3217. Particulars of raids into Kenya since 1928 have not been published in this country, but the raid in March referred to above formed the subject of a communique issued by the Kenya Government which was reproduced in the Press here on the 6th April.

FIJI (FRANCHISE).

Major POLE asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in regard to the franchise under the new reforms in Fiji, he is aware that the income qualification of £75 imposed on the Indian community disfranchises most of the agricultural labourers, the municipal workers, cooks and other domestic servants, as well as factory hands in the small industries; and whether he will consider the proposal of the Indian community in Fiji that the income qualification should be reduced to a level comparable to the lowest wage paid by the sugar company in the Colony?

Mr. LUNN: I have nothing to add to the reply to my hon. Friend's question of the 11th July on this subject except that the Secretary of State has not yet received a communication from the Government in Fiji in regard to the proposal mentioned in the latter part of the question.

WEST INDIAN COLONIES (STATUS).

Dr. MORGAN asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is the intention or policy of the present Government to grant to the Crown Colonies of the West Indies a constitution on the same principles and basis as has now been agreed, on the main lines of the Donoughmore Commission, should be granted to Ceylon; and whether it is proposed to publish correspondence or despatches dealing with this question?

Mr. LUNN: The answer to both portions of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.

Dr. MORGAN asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any schemes for the federation or confederation of the West Indian islands have recently been received by the Colonial Office; whether it is proposed to reopen the matter for ventilation and further discussion and representations; and whether changes are contemplated in the immediate future?

Mr. LUNN: The answer to all three parts of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.

Dr. MORGAN asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the question of the revision of the local constitution of the legislative councils in the different islands of the West Indies and other Crown Colonies has recently been under review and reconsideration; whether the abolition of the district status has been decided on; whether such matters as the broadening of the present electoral basis, the extension of the franchise, the reduction of nominated members, the admission of women to the suffrage, &c., have been reviewed; and whether any representations have been received on the subject?

Mr. LUNN: No representations have been received in favour of a general review of the constitutions of the various British Colonies and no general policy of revision is contemplated. Individual cases have been

and are under consideration and will be dealt with in accordance with the varying needs of the different Colonies concerned.

25th November.

ASHANTI (KNOWLES' TRIAL).

Mr. KNIGHT asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the rank and length of experience of the official who tried for murder and sentenced to death Dr. Knowles in Ashanti?

Mr. LUNN: His substantive post was that of Police Magistrate, which he had held for seven years at the date of the trial. He was acting as the Circuit Judge at the time.

NORTHERN RHODESIA.

25th November.

Earl WINTERTON asked the Prime Minister if the contemplated statement by him on the future government of East Africa will include proposals for the future government of Northern Rhodesia?

The PRIME MINISTER: The answer is in the negative.

Earl WINTERTON: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a greater increase in the material development and population of this territory than of any comparable territory in Africa? Does he not think, under these circumstances, that, if he is going to make a statement on the future government of East Africa, it should include the question of the future government of Northern Rhodesia? Will the right hon.

Gentleman give me an answer?

We are

The PRIME MINISTER: The answer is perfectly obvious. dealing with the report of a Committee or Commission, appointed by our predecessors, relating to the government of East Africa, and that report is the basis of what we shall have to decide and subsequently report to the House.

Earl WINTERTON: Is the right hon. Gentlemen aware that the Commission itself visited Livingstone and made considerable reference to the future government of Northern Rhodesia in its report?

SOUTHERN RHODESIA.

25th November.

Dr. MORGAN asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is now in a position to indicate the attitude of the Government upon the Bill passed by the Southern Rhodesia legislature for the permanent settlement of the land question?

Mr. PONSONBY: The examination of the points arising in connection with the Bill has not yet been completed. But I hope to be in a position to indicate the attitude of the Government before very long.