§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in addition to the military tribunal at Johannesburg, a Court styled the Court of the Chief Magistrate has been appointed over which an officer styled the Chief Magistrate presides; whether this Court has cognisance of and jurisdiction in all criminal cases except murder, treason, sedition, rape, robbery, arson, and concealment of arms; whether the Chief Magistrate is empowered to inflict sentences not exceeding two years imprisonment, fines not exceeding £100, and to sentence to the punishment of flogging, the flogging not to exceed 100 lashes; and whether the Colonial Secretary can give any explanation of the establishment of this tribunal, and on what evidence Sir Alfred Milner, as High Commissioner, has sanctioned the establishment of a tribunal to which the power of sentencing to the lash is entrusted.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)I have no information. All the arrangements for preserving law and order in the Transvaal are entirely in the hands of Lord Roberts.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAs this is a matter of flogging, will the right hon. Gentleman ask his agent, Sir Alfred Milner?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir.