MR. HEEBEET SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese coolies have deserted from the Transvaal mines on which they were employed; whether all who escaped have been arrested; whether any have been charged before a magistrate, and whether any punishments have been inflicted; whether any persons have been charged, under the provisions of the Labour Importation Ordinance, with the offence of harbouring or concealing an escaped labourer; and, if he has no information on these points, whether he will ask Lord Milner for particulars.
The following Question also appeared on the Paper—
DR. MACNAMAEA (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to make any statement relative to the desertion of two Chinese coolies from the New Comet Mine at Johannesburg, and the desertion of fifteen coolies on the way to Pretoria; and, if not, whether he will ask for particulars from Lord Milner.
§ THE SECEETAEY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON,) Warwick and LeamingtonI have not received information on these points, but I have already stated that I will ask Lord Milner for particulars.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)When will the right hon. Gentleman ask Lord Milner for particulars? I have been asking that for the last ten days.
§ MR. LYTTELTONThe letter was written yesterday.