HC Deb 03 March 1898 vol 54 c484
MR. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a telgram from Pretoria, through Renter's agency, which appeared in the Press on Saturday last, which announced that the Volksraad of the South African Republic had rescinded a resolution permitting coolies to reside and trade in the towns of the Transvaal; and whether, if the coolies referred to are British subjects, any interference with their trading in any part of the Republic is a violation of the Convention of London, 1884?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES

I have no official information on the point. But it is said to be connected with the test case which is about to be brought before the Court in pursuance of the arrangements shown in the correspondence presented to Parliament in September, 1895, and which case will be watched by counsel on behalf of Her Majesty's Government. As to the second part of the Question, I must refer the hon. Member to the correspondence I have mentioned.