§ MR. CHARLES McARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that cotton planting in Central Africa is being retarded by the scarcity of labour; and whether, having regard to the importance of encouraging the growth of cotton within the British Empire, he will reconsider the sanction given by him to the recruiting in the British Central African Protectorate of 5,000 natives for the Transvaal mines.
§ EARL PERCYThe reports received from our officials in British Central Africa do not indicate that there is any scarcity of labour. His Majesty's Government therefore see no reason to reconsider the sanction which they have given to additional recruitment for the Transvaal mines.