§ MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies by what law or statute the Governor of Natal is empowered to refer the case of Usibebu, which had been dismissed by the Resident Magistrate after an investigation extending over several weeks, to the Resident Commissioner for further consideration, and in the meantime to detain an acquitted man in captivity?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe Secretary of State is not aware that Usibebu has been acquitted, or even tried, although he has learnt informally that the Resident Magistrate, before whom preliminary proceedings took place on a charge of being accessory to murder, dismissed that particular charge. It will be for the Zululand Government to consider whether any further proceedings should be taken, and the Secretary of State is 852 not aware of any special law applicable to the matter, other than the "Laws and Regulations for the Government of Zululand," published in C. 5331. It is understood that Usibebu remains at Eshowe, and it would be contrary to native law for him to return to his location without permission from the Resident Commissioner, but the Secretary of State is not aware that he is detained in custody.