§ MR. OSMOND-WILLIAMS (Merionethshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the Report of Dr. M'Kensie (brother of the Military Governor), and of Dr. Johnston, to the treatment of the women and children at the Boer refugee camp at Johannesburg, saying that the food there was unfit for human consumption, and the death rate among these women and children unusually high; and whether he proposes taking any steps to better their condition.
§ * MR. BRODRICKI am aware of the Report mentioned. As regards the food, there were complaints at first, but the food was identically the same as that supplied to our own soldiers, and at the time, owing to the state of the railway lines, some hardship was unavoidable. The food has been for some time wholesome and sufficient. As regards the death rate, it is not the fact that it was abnormally high; figures have been telegraphed for, but from the information at present at my disposal it would appear that much of the sickness among the refugees had arisen before their arrival in camp, and further, that their health was steadily improving owing to the steps taken by the authorities with a competent medical staff.