§ MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the High Commissioner for South Africa, at the opening of the Inter-colonial Council of 31st May, 1904, to the effect that the Transvaal was paying its way, and that when compared with Cape Colony and Great Britain their financial troubles were not out of the common; and whether, in view of the fact that the introduction of Chinese indentured labour into the Transvaal was sanctioned on account of the great financial difficulties of the Transvaal, he will consider the advisability of directing that any further importation of such labour should cease now that the grave financial difficulties have been officially declared to be nonexistent.
§ MR. LYTTELTONMy attention has been drawn to a telegraphic report which purports to give the substance of Lord Milner's statement on the occasion referred to. I do not agree with the hon. Member if he suggests that the introduction of Chinese labour was sanctioned solely by reason of the financial difficulties of the Transvaal. By stringent reductions in expenditure and by the abandonment for the time being of many most desirable works of development Lord Milner has succeeded in balancing his Estimates for the coming year, but I am not prepared, on that account, to imperil the success of his financial policy by arresting the additional supply of unskilled labour upon which the progress of the Transvaal depends.
§ MAJOR SEELYIs it not a fact that this successful financial situation arose before any Chinese had arrived in South Africa?
§ MR. LYTTELTONNo Chinese have arrived at present. As I have already informed my hon. and gallant friend, a stringent reduction of expenditure has produced a balance in the accounts.