PEERS AND SLAVERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16711, 29 January 1926, Page 9

PEERS AND SLAVERY.

FORCED NATIVE LABOUR. (By a Correspondent.) LONDON, December, 17. "There are no fewer than 19 areas in Europe, Asia, and Africa in which slave dealing, slave raiding, and slave markets exist," said Lord Buxton today during a debate in which he asked what action the Government was taking in connection with the recent draft convention of the League of Nations on the subject. He suggested that, apart from the old-time slavery there was to-day a great deal of domestic slavery even in British Colonies and Protectorates, such as the Sudan and Sierra eLone, disguised as compulsory or forced labour of natives on public works. The Archbishop of Canterbury agreed that the Convention did not go so far as people in this country would like, anc] was afraid that the grouping together of so many nations would involve a levelling down of the general requirements to a point satisfactory to the least advanced among them. Forced Labour. Viscount Cecil, for the Government, said it was quite impossible to forbid altogether forced labour for public works, and the British view was that before such labour was employed l an overwhelming case in its favour must be made out. Forced labour for private purposes ought not to exist, and there was a rule against it throughout the British Empire. Great efforts were being made to deal with the question of slavery in the. Soudan. A considerable number of slaves were still being,received by our Consular officers in the Hedjaz and elsewhere, who thereupon became free and were restored to their homes in Africa. For this purpose a clearing house for slaves had been established in the neighbourhood of Port Soudan. There had been no diminution of activity on the part of our officers in rescuing slaves. The state of affairs in the Hedjaz made it very difficult to get information on slavery in that 'country. King Hussein was now a refugee in Cyprus, and his son, King Ali, was in a position of great anxiety and not much authority, therefore,"for the moment, the British Government could do no more in the Hedjaz.