> Society > History
HANSARD 1803–2005 ? 1880s ? 1881 ? August 1881 ? 18 August 1881 ? Commons Sitting ? QUESTIONS.
INDIA—THE ASSAM TEA GARDENS— MORTALITY OF INDENTURED COOLIES.
HC Deb 18 August 1881 vol 265 cc215-6215
MR. O'DONNELL asked the Secretary of State for India, If his attention has been called to the fact that the average mortality of the indentured Coolies in the Assam Tea Gardens has been ten per cent. per annum; whether he is aware that, not with standing this excessive mortality, the period of service for indentured Coolies in the Assam Tea Gardens has been extended from three to five years; and, whether he will grant a Return of the Servants of the Crown in the Supreme Government of India and in the Government of Bengal possessing pecuniary interests in Assam Tea Companies and holding shares in Assam Tea Gardens?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON Sir, it is the case that, according to the last annual Report—that for 1879 —on Coolie Immigration in Assam, the mortality rate amongst the indentured Coolies exceeded in one district of the tea gardens 8 per cent, and in another 9 per cent for that year. Indeed, on two gardens it was considerably higher still during the second half of the same year. The average death-rate of the districts, however, was not 10 per cent, but 5.68 per cent. which, although a considerable improvement over previous years, is a high rate, and it was pointed out by the Secretary of State to the Government of India that, with a view to lessen the evil, efforts should be made in the direction of improving the condition of newly-imported Coolies; and, further, that a garden in which a high death-rate should be found to be due to neglect on the part of the planter should be closed to Coolies immigrating under the Bengal Act of 1873. It is proposed, among other things, by a Bill now before the Bengal Council, to extend the maximum of contract to five years, this being one of the recommendations made by a Commission which has recently reported on the Bengal Emigration Act of 1873. As regards the Return asked for respecting the interest of servants of the Crown possessing pecuniary interests in Assam Tea Companies, and holding shares in Assam Tea Gardens, there is no information in the India Office respecting it. I will, however, communicate with the Government of India as to whether they will furnish a Return on the subject. I may say that there is nothing contrary to the rules laid down by the Secretary of State in 1861 and 1862, in the possession of shares by Civil Servants in such enterprizes, provided they take no part in the management of the concern, and are not employed in the districts where the operations are carried on.
HANSARD 1803–2005 ? 1890s ? 1894 ? February 1894 ? 20 February 1894 ? Commons Sitting ? QUESTIONS.
MORTALITY IN THE INDIAN TEA GARDENS.
HC Deb 20 February 1894 vol 21 cc831-2831
MR. S. SMITH I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he can inform the House of the rate of mortality among the Coolie labourers in the tea gardens of India; whether, when the Inland Immigration Act was introduced in 1882, the rate of mortality was 37.8 per 1,000, while in the six succeeding years the rate averaged 39.1 per 1,000, and whether the rate has increased or diminished since then; whether he is aware that in Assam the mortality amongst labourers under the Act is twice as large as that among the general population and among the police force of the same country; and whether he will give a Return of the rate of mortality in the Assam tea gardens, with the names of the respective gardens and their proprietors, on which the highest rate of mortality prevails?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL,) North Beds. The average mortality of Coolies in the tea gardens to which the Act of 1882 applies was for the six years preceding that year 47.6 per 1,000; in the year 1882 it was 37.8 per 1,000; for the next six years it was 39.5; and for the four years ending with 1892 it was 38.7. Allowing for the fact that the registration of deaths among the general population is known to be defective, and that the police force consists of picked men, these rates are not considered to be comparatively high. The death-rate of 1892 among the general population was nominally 34.2, and that among the police 28.9. The Secretary of State has no information as to the names of the proprietors of gardens; but if my hon. Friend will move for a Return of the names of gardens classed as unhealthy and of the death rate in each for 1892 it can be given.
THE ASSAM TEA GARDENS.
HC Deb 11 August 1893 vol 16 cc20-220
§SIR W. WEDDERBURN (Banffshire) I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State for India has been drawn to a recent Judgment delivered by Justices Prinsep and Trevelyan, of the Calcutta High Court, in the case of George Murray, manager of a tea garden at Rangamati, who appealed against the decision of the Deputy Commissioner of Jalpaiguri, convicting him under Sections 341 and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code, and sentencing him to one mouth simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500; whether the Secretary of State has observed that the Judges, in upholding: the conviction, remarked that the evidence shows that particularly the coolies employed on this tea garden were always in a state of durance; when off work they were kept within a guarded enclosure, and even when they were at work on the tea garden they were watched by guards, that the manager dealt with his labourers in such a manner as completely to deprive them of any freedom of action, and thus practically reduce them for the term of their engagements to a state of slavery, that Mr. Murray had the assistance of the police, and that the circumstances of this case go to show the necessity for efficient inspection of the gardens; and whether, looking to the state of affairs disclosed by this Judgment, the Secretary of State will order a full and independent inquiry into the present condition of the coolies in Assam, and the working of the system under which their labour is obtained for the planters?
*MR. G. RUSSELL (1 and 2.) Yes, Sir. The attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the report of the Judgment referred to in the question, which relates to a garden situated not in Assam, but in the Dooars, where the Inland Emigration Acts are not in force. Full provision is made by these Acts for the efficient inspection of tea gardens and for the lodgment of complaints by coolies in districts where they are in operation. (3.) The condition of the coolies in Assam has recently been the subject of a protracted investigation by the Government of India; and certain Amendments of the Inland Emigration Act have consequently been passed by the Legislative Council. The general result of the investigation has, however, been to show that the condition of the labourers on tea gardens is superior to that of the masses in the districts from which they emigrate. It does not appear to the Secretary of State that it is necessary at present to have another inquiry; but the attention of the Government will be called, in reference to this case, to the necessity of enforcing a thoroughly efficient inspection. If any breach of the law is committed by interference with the liberty of the coolies, either in Assam or elsewhere, the offender, as shown by the result of the ease referred to in my hon. Friend's question, is liable to conviction and punishment.
SIR J. GORST Will the hon. Gentleman have any objection to lay on the Table the recent correspondence about the Assam Tea Gardens and the alterations in the laws regulating them made in consequence of it?
MR. G. RUSSELL No, Sir; there is no objection.
Source - https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1894/feb/20/mortality-in-the-indian-tea-gardens
https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1894/feb/20/mortality-in-the-indian-tea-gardens
https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1893/aug/11/the-assam-tea-gardens
Navigations 
Quick Contact
Subscribe Us
Quick Mail
