§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the hon. Member for Coventry when he proposes to bring on his Motion in regard to Chinese labour in the Transvaal; and whether he will consider the advisability of removing it from the Order-book of the House.
§ * MR. MURRAY (Coventry)I would ask the indulgence of the House in view of the fact that the Question contains an absolute misdescription of the Motion placed on the Paper. The Motion is not with regard to Chinese labour it covers far more important matters, such as the mortality amongst Central African labourers in South Africa and also covers the question of the sufferings of Cape labourers, which has been a matter of investigation and report in the House, and, naturally, as it refers to other labourers working in these regions, it also covers those Chinese labourers who have arrived in South Africa. I would, therefore, appeal to the hon. Gentleman, whose benevolence is only exceeded by his experience, to give his assistance in securing from the Leader of the House an early date for the discussion of this matter. With regard to the second point of the Question, I think the hon. Member will appreciate the point I have raised, and will agree with me that the Motion is one which he himself would not think should be removed from the Order Paper.
§ * MR. MURRAYUnfortunately, or fortunately, the conduct of the proceedings of this House is in the hands of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Manchester and not of the hon. Member for Coventry, but the hon. Member could perhaps assist by curtailing the discussion of the Licensing Bill in obtaining an early day for the discussion.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI will address a Question to the Prime Minister on the subject.