§ MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received communications from any of His Majesty's representatives in the West Indies informing him that British native labour is available there for the Transvaal Colony; if so, will he state the purport of such communication, and what reply has been made to it.
§ * MR. LYTTELTONI have received a despatch from the Governor of Barbados asking whether he may permit steps to be taken for recruiting labourers in Barbados for service in South Africa. No reply has yet been made to this despatch pending reference to Lord Milner on the subject.
§ MR. NORMANIn sending the despatch did the Governor of Barbados express any opinion as to the desirability or otherwise?
§ * MR. LYTTELTONYes.
§ MR. NORMANIn favour?
§ * MR. LYTTELTONYes, Sir.
§ MR. MALCOLM (Suffolk, Stowmarket)Did he say how many recruits he could get?
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Has the import of labourers into Barbados been stopped?
§ [No answer was returned.]