§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at a 1025 meeting of the Chamber of Mines, held in Johannesburg on 19th November last, a letter was read from the Transvaal Government offering 1,000 more native convicts for the mines; and, if so, will he state whether this offer was accepted, what is the total number of convicts so employed, what is the nature of the offences for which they have been convicted, and on what terms are they supplied to the mines.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have cabled to make the inquiry, but as yet have received no reply.
§ MR. WHITLEYI will put it down again for Monday.