HC Deb 04 July 1904 vol 137 cc459-60
DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now state the total number of men, the total number women, and the total number of children of Chinese extraction who have arrived in South Africa under the Transvaal Labour Ordinance; and, if not, whether he will telegraph to Lord Milner for these facts by cable.

MR. LYTTELTON

I informed the hon. Member for the Cleveland Division on the 7th of last month f that none of the emigrants who have come from Hong-kong had taken their families with them. The number of men is just over 1,000, according to the newspaper tele- † See(4) Debates, exxxv., 923. grams. I do not think it necessary to telegraph to Lord Milner on the subject.

MR. HERBERT SAMUEL

Did any women or children accompany the second batch of coolies?

MR. LYTTELTON

asked for notice of the Question.

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)

May I ask whether these particular coolies Ware recruited under the early advertisement, in which no mention was made of the fact that they might take their wives and children.

MR. LYTTELTON

My information is that they were fully informed before take their families with them.

DR. MACNAMARA

Then can the right hon. Gentleman give any reason why no women and children did accompany them?

[No Answer was returned.]