§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it was by his direction, and, if not, by whose direction, that on Sunday 25th August last Mr. Merriman, the Treasurer General in the late Cape Government and an Executive Councillor of 25 years standing in the Colony, was ordered by two armed and mounted men, purporting to be sent by Major L. C. Potts, to confine himself to his farm at Stellenbosch, and was there kept a prisoner until 3rd September, armed men being stationed in the vitciniy of his farm; whether he is aware that no charge has ever been made against Mr. Merriman nor any reason assigned for this invasion of his personal liberty; whether he can now name the offence of which Mr. Merriman was guilty, or say upon what grounds he was so confined for ten days; and, whether Mr. Merriman is now at full liberty and allowed to hear from and communicate freely with his friends, and especially his legal advisers in this country.
§ MR. BRODRICKMr. Merriman was in August residing at Stellenbosch, a district under martial law. It had been found necessary to require all persons residing in this district to remain on their own farms unless exceptionally granted special permits to travel by rail. Mr. Merriman had been originally granted a permit to travel between Stellenbosch and Capetown, but the General Officer Commanding at Capetown considered that Mr. Merriman should not be treated differently to other civilians. The permit was, however, only withdrawn for ten days. No charge was made against him; he was not arrested, nor has he been subjected to any restrictions under martial law other than those imposed on all civilians.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONIs the last paragraph accurate?
§ MR. BRODRICKYes, I assume that is so.