§ SIR ROBERT FOWLER (London)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to the beneficial results from the compounds erected for the Natives working in the Diamond Mines at Kimberley, in preventing their demoralization from drinking; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will recommend the High Commissioner to support the present system?
§ MR. M'ARTHUR (Leicester)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to a Letter from the Good Templars' Lodge of Central South Africa to the Secretary for Native Affairs at the Cape, dated 24th March, 1886, in which complaint is made of the want of proper protection for the Native labourers at Kimberley, and the consequent demoralization of large numbers of them by the spread of drunkenness and disorder; and, whether, as a means of abating the evils complained of, Her Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of recommending the extension of the compound or barrack system, under adequate Government inspection?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. OSBORNE MORGAN) (Denbighshire, E.)I am afraid my hon. Friends forget that the diamond mines of Kimberley belong to the Cape Colony, 1708 which is a self-governing Colony, and, that being so, the matters referred to in the Questions do not in the ordinary course come under the cognizance of the Colonial Office, nor are we in a position to interfere in them.
§ SIR ROBERT FOWLERasked whether the Home Government would use its influence with the Cape Government in the direction indicated in his Question?
§ MR. OSBORNE MORGANsaid, he could ask the Governor of the Cape Colony to make a report on the matter; but the Colonial Office did not like interfering with the self-governing Colonies in matters like this, for which they, and not we, were responsible.