§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the High Commissioner's Consultative Committee has as its secretary Mr. R. J. Pakeman, who wrote an atricle in the Johannesburg Star, entitled "The Dead Duke" (at the time when the late Duke of Clarence was awaiting burial); whether the British population of Johannesburg compelled 893 Mr. Pakeman to leave for Durban in consequence of this article; and whether this committee has held meetings at Government House, the official residence of the High Commissioner.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINMr. Pakeman is hon. secretary to the committee, but I have no information as to the newspaper article referred to, and I have received no complaints in regard to his appointment to this unpaid position.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Uitlanders on the subject?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINMr. Pakeman is in a sense representative of the Uitlanders on a committee appointed by the Government to assist me in dealing with the question of the refugees, and they would naturally be the first persons to complain if they thought they had any right to complain. I believe there is great doubt—this much I may say—whether Mr. Pakeman was the author of the article.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYThe statement I quoted appeared in the public newspapers of South Africa.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir; but everything which appears in the public newspapers is not necessarily true.