§ MR. FLOWER (Bradford, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the distress prevailing among the mining employees of the various companies in and around Kimberley, he will instruct the Government representatives at the South African ports, more particularly Port Elizabeth, to give all possible facilities for the prompt, forwarding by rail to Kimberley of any parts of mining machinery, necessary to replace the damage which has been occasioned during the Boer invasion, in order that mining operations may be restarted at the earliest possible moment.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINSuch instructions cannot be given, as the military authorities must have the full use of the railways.