INDIAN INDENTURED LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2726, 22 March 1916, Page 5

INDIAN INDENTURED LABOUR

INTOLERABLE SYSTEM TO BE ABOLISHED.

By Teiegraph—Press Association—CopyrigW

(Rec. March 21, 9.15 p.m.) Delhi, March 21. Speaking in the Council, Viscount llardinge (tho Viceroy), supporting the resolution in favour of the abolition of the system of Indian indentured labour, said that the feeling against the syßlem was intensified, every year. ' He announced that the Secretary of- St'ato bad agreed to a policy of eventual abolition, but the existing system must bo maintained till new conditions had been worked out in conjunction with the Colonial Office and the Crown colonies concerned. He was confident that India would accept this in a reasonable and generous.spirit. 'With due regard to the interests of important interests in the colonies, a marked improvement in the conditions of the labourers had been made, and Hither progress which had been made towards .tho realisation of their aims had been a source of deop personal satisfaction. One of his last official ants was to, be ablo to announce that Indians desiring to work as labourers in tropical climates might do so under happier conditions, and to state that ho had obtained from the Imperial Government a promise"' that' in: due course a system which educated opinion, in India regarded as an intolerable stigma would be abolished. The Indian membors of the Council expressed their appreciation of the anuouncenvint.