SIR MANCHERJEE BHOWNAG-GREE (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received any reply to his telegram calling for information as regards the order of the town council of East London, requiring British Indian tradespeople and storekeepers to vacate the town in fourteen days; and will he state what further steps he has taken to prohibit the enforcement of the order.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR; THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON, War-wick and Leamington)The Governor 1294 has replied that Ministers inform him that special and urgent inquiry has been instituted, the result of which will be at once communicated to him. Ministers explain that the Municipal Council of East London is taking action under a regulation framed under Sub-section 30 of Section 5 of the Cape Act, No. 11, of 1895, and state that they will not support any arbitrary or unreasonable interpretation of the regulation on the part of the municipality, whose powers in this matter are limited by the proviso to Section 5 of the Act.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI am afraid I cannot answer that Question; but I should imagine that in the meantime they will not be expelled.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONHas the right hon. Gentleman agreed to the order or not?
§ MR. LYTTELTONNo sanction is required.