§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the prohibition by Lord Roberts and Sir Alfred Milner against the return to Johannesburg is intended to apply to every person without exception; and, in particular, does it apply to such as engineers and owners of industrial works in Johannesburg, which during the war have had to be left in charge of Boers, or shut down, and the re-opening of which would be for the advantage of the military and community there and the re-settlement of the country, such as, for example, the steam laundry at Johannesburg, which belongs to two Englishmen, who wish to proceed thither, and is at present in custody of a Boer woman, and other similar cases.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The resumption of 1501 trade and industry will not be delayed a moment longer than the military exigencies require, and such persons as managers and engineers will be naturally allowed to go up in anticipation of the general population to make arrangements for re-establishing the industries of the place. But I learn on 6th July that up to that date Lord Roberts had only been able to allow the return of twenty mining representatives, and that these were still detained en route.