MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by the Rand mine-owners in obtaining native labour, and of the fact that the coal mine-owners have obtained Kaffir labour to such an extent as to increase their output since the war by nearly 50 per cent., he will inquire whether the latter result has been obtained by the offer of increased wages; and, if so, will he press upon the Rand mine-owners the adoption of the same method.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.) I am not prepared to offer any suggestions to the mine-owners as to the manner in which they should conduct their business, but I am informed that wages on the Rand have been largely increased during the last three months.