§ MR. HUMPHREYS-OWEN (Montgomeryshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the instructions to school teachers in the Orange River Colony, by Mr. E. B. Sargant, and printed on pp. 70 and 71 of Paper [Cd. 567], and especially to the statement that the curriculum and standards should generally be those of Cape Colony and the instruction be given in English, and that the fact that some children scarcely know any English is not a reason for speaking to them in Dutch; whether he is aware that this method of teaching the English language to Welsh-speaking children has, after a trial of some generations in Welsh schools, been abandoned in favour of utilising the mother tongue as the vehicle of instruction; and whether, in view of this experience, he will invite Mr. Sargant to issue instructions that in future the Dutch language shall be used as the medium of instructing Dutch-speaking children in the English language.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have seen the instructions referred to, and am aware of the system in use in Wales, but I do not admit that the analogy between the Transvaal and Wales is an exact one. His Majesty's Government have not yet arrived at a final decision as to the language question, and I have asked Lord Milner for a report to be furnished as soon as he returns. Meanwhile, however, I may say that I am informed that many Boer children understand as little Dutch as they do English, and speak only 817 the Taal, and also that many of the parents would prefer that instruction should be given in English, as the language which will most conduce to the material benefit of their children.
§ MR. HUMPHREYS-OWENHas not a similar statement been frequently made in regard to Welsh-speaking children?