§ SIR SEYMOUR KINGI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a memorial, addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, from resident natives of India in Natal, who have been engaged in trade there for many years and have acquired considerable interests in land and in personal property, setting forth that, under the operation of the Dealers' or Traders' Licensing Act, allowed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Colonial Office, the licensing authorities, consisting chiefly of rival traders of British or Foreign nationality, are refusing licences to trade and withdrawing licences from respectable natives of India; whether the Government of India have taken or propose to take any steps to protect Indian natives and fellow subjects from confiscation of their civil and legal rights in Natal; and whether, as Natal relies to a great extent for its supply of labour upon natives of India, under arrangements which are sanctioned by the Indian Government, that Government will be advised to stop all emigration of Indian subjects into Natal until the local laws are fairly administered to Indian subjects?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI have not yet seen the memorial referred to in my honourable Friend's Question, which has, I understand, only recently reached the Colonial Office. When it is referred to the India Office it will receive the fullest consideration from me in Council, both as to the nature of the grievances complained of, as well as the remedy suggested by my honourable Friend.