§ MR. COURTNEY (Cornwall, Bodmin)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the military authorities on the northern frontier of the Cape Colony have referred home on the subject of the writ of habeas corpus, of which they have accepted service, returnable to the High Court at Cape Town on the 12th March; and whether in any case instructions will be given to obey the writ by bringing up the three persons named therein for judgment to the High Court at Cape Town.
*MR. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. WYNDHAM)The military authorities having accepted service of the writ, the Secretary of State has no doubt that they will duly appear at the proper time.
§ MR. COURTNEYHas any inquiry been made?
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSI am not aware whether any inquiry has been made. Service having been accepted, things will take their natural course.
§ MR. COURTNEYMay I ask my hon. friend whether he is not aware that there has been a delay in answering this question, and, if it has not been for the purpose of making inquiry, why has it occurred?
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSThe only delay I know of is that I asked my right hon. friend for my own convenience to postpone this question from Tuesday until to-day.