§ MR. M'ARTHUR (Leicester)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is able to confirm the satisfactory report lately received from Basutoland to the effect that the natives have now combined with their chiefs to exclude spirituous liquors from that country; and, whether Colonel Clarke, British Resident in Basutoland, is being supported by the authorities of the Cape Colony and of the Free State in a temperance policy?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN) (Denbighshire, E.)I think I can best answer the Question of my hon. Friend by quoting from a despatch from Colonel Clarke, dated January 13 last, in which, after stating that the whole of the Chiefs in Basutoland now profess loyalty, and with rare exceptions offer every facility to officers and police, who can travel safely throughout the country in the execution of their duties, he says—
Further, I am thankful to say we have succeeded now in putting a stop to the internal traffic in brandy, and are endeavouring, by a system of border patrols, to entirely check the introduction of drink, the evil which, for the last five years, has been instrumental in paralyzing the action of civilized government.In answer to the second Question, although in receipt of no detailed information 753 on the subject, we have every reason to believe that the authorities both of the Cape Colony and the Free State have given their support to Colonel Clarke in his policy. Sir Hercules Robinson, the High Commissioner for South Africa, will be in this country in a few weeks, when, no doubt, more precise information on the subject will be obtained from him.