MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury has any reference been made in the negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government concerning the introduction of Chinese labour into South Africa, to the possibility of Chinese labour being imported into the United Kingdom; and will His Majesty's Government undertake not to entertain any such measure without previously consulting Parliament and taking its views on the effect such a measure would have in introducing competition with British labour.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman seems to be under the impression that there is some legislative restriction in this country upon the importation of Chinese labour. That is not the case, and when it is necessary to impose such a restriction, I need hardly say that this House, which is an essential part of the Legislature, will have to be consulted before such a law is passed.