HC Deb 25 February 1901 vol 89 c1014
CAPTAIN LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether the rate of pay, namely, 5s. per diem, now drawn by colonial troops in South Africa, is less than the current rate of wages for the lowest class of white labour in such colonies.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

Five shillings a day is undoubtedly less than the average rate of daily wages for unskilled white labour in the colonies from which these troops have been sent.