§ MR. HUBBARD (Bucks, N.)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been directed to the letter, addressed to Sir Sidney Shippard, K.C.M.G., Administrator of British Bechuanaland, by Khama, Chief of the Bamangwato; whether Her Majesty's Government can do anything to give Khama the help he begs for in his concluding sentence—
I dread the white man's drink more than all the assegais of the Matabele which kill men's bodies and it is quickly over, but drink puts devils into men and destroys both their souls and bodies for ever. Its wounds never heal. I pray your honour never to ask me to open even a little door to the drink, and Francis desires that, and has always desired it;and, who are the firm of Wood, Chapman, Francis, and Clark, so much dreaded by Khama?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)Sir Sidney Shippard has been instructed to assure Khama that Her Majesty's Government will give him all support that is possible in his efforts to put down the liquour trade in his territories. Wood, Chapman, Francis, and Clark were traders in Khama's and the adjacent countries. Francis and Clark had been expelled by Khama from his territory for violation of his Rules against the introduction and sale of intoxicating liquors, and afterwards, in company with Chapman, endeavoured to bring about a filibustering raid against Khama.
§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked, whether it was not the case that other Bechuana Chiefs had not protested against the British traders bringing liquor into the country; and, whether the Government were doing anything to stop the trade?
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSThe Government are doing all in their power to check the extension of the liquor traffic throughout all the British Possessions and Protectorates in South Africa?