§ MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Henley)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, within the last few weeks, over 2,000 Chinese coolies have been imported into the Transvaal; and whether, in view of the assurance given to Parliament by the Secretary of State on the 6th July last that before the end of the year the importation of Chinese coolies would have ceased, he can explain under what authority, on what grounds, and for the benefit of what mines, the recent importations were allowed.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)Some 2,000 coolies arrived in January. All recruiting in China ceased on 30th November in accordance with the pledge given, but these men, who were recruited under licenses issued in circumstances which, as has been explained, were beyond the control of His Majesty's present advisers, did not, owing to the length 301 of the journey, actually arrive until the present year had set in. Information as to particular mines to which these coolies were allotted has not yet been received.
§ MR. CARLILE (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many indentured Chinese labourers arrived in the Transvaal during the month of January.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe number was 2,121.