§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the General Officer Commanding the troops in Belfast has issued an order to the effect that the two regiments stationed in the Belfast District and the Royal Irish Fusiliers in
† See pages 387 and 535.1039 Holywood are to purchase all requirements for their sergeants' mess wet canteen from one firm in Dundalk; and can he say for what reason compulsion is used in this case.(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) Under the present regulations the General Officer Commanding is responsible for the management of the canteens within his district, and the War Office has no information on the point raised. I Any inquiries accordingly should be addressed to the General Officer concerned.
| March, 1898. | 1889. | 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Value of output of gold for Transvaal | 1,217,424 | 1,654,258 | 442,303 | 933,888 | 1,309,329 |
| White employees | 10,684 | 12,000 | 5,627 | 11,166 | — |
| (about) | |||||
| Coloured labourers. | 82,062 | 93,788 | 24,527 | 51,902 | 72,340 |
| (average for year) | (average for January to June) |