§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information showing that two colonial coolies imported to the Rand under the Chinese Labour Ordinance have deserted from the New Comet Mine, Johannesburg, and were captured on Wednesday last at Pretoria, having tramped thither from Johannesburg; can he say whether they were escorted to Johannesburg by military or by police, and were they handcuffed; what was the reason for their desertion, and what will be the punishment accorded to them; and whether there is any explanation of the circumstance that they have, within a few days of entrance on their work as indentured labourers, thus deserted from it.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have no information on the subject.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman use the cable? Is he aware that there is a telegraph to arrival at South Africa?
§ MR. LYTTELTONYes, Sir, I am quite aware that there is a telegraph, but I do not consider it necessary to employ it.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI also beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has sent a despatch by the last mail to Lord Milner calling his attention to the fact that these two coolies had escaped from this mine, and inquiring how they escaped and how they were brought back?
§ MR. LYTTELTONsaid he had not written to Lord Milner.
§ * MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware it is reported that a large number of Chinese coolies have escaped?
§ MR. SPEAKERA Question must not be based on reports.