§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the experimental recruiting of 1,000 natives in Central Africa for the Transvaal mines has yet begun; and, if so, what rate of wages per diem has been approved by the British Commissioner.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE, Rochester)This Question should have been addressed to the Foreign Office. The recruiting of natives, up to a maximum of 1,000, is now proceeding in the British Central Africa Protectorate. The following rates of wages have been approved:—Monthly payments to the labourers of £1 10s. without any deduction. In addition the Labour Association will pay 4s. a month for maintenance of wives and families left in the Protectorate, and a sum of 6s. for every native engaged, in respect of hut-tax due to the Protectorate Administration. Papers on the subject are about to be laid.