§ DR. MACNAMARAI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese coolies—men, women, and children—have arrived in South Africa up to date.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have not been as yet informed by Lord Milner of the numbers which have arrived. They are stated in the newspapers to be rather more than 1,000.
§ DR. MACNAMARAWill the right hon. Gentleman secure from Lord Milner information as to the number respectively of men, women, and children?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGE (Carnarvon Boroughs)By cable.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have not received the numbers.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELDoes the 1,000 already there include any women or children?
§ * MR. SPEAKERIf these particulars are wanted they should have been asked for.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELThey are asked for, Sir.
§ DR. MACNAMARAI have asked for the number of men, women, and children, and now I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will get that information from Lord Milner.
§ MR. SPEAKERIf the hon. Gentleman will look at the way the Question is printed he will see that what he asked for was the total number of Chinese coolies, and then in brackets were the words "men, women, and children." He has not asked for them separately.
§ DR. MACNAMARArose to put a further Question, but was met with shouts of "Order!"
§ * MR. SPEAKERIf the hon. Gentleman wishes to have separate figures they 17 should be asked for. It is quite obvious that a Minister cannot bring down all these separate figures unless he is asked for them.
§ DR. MACNAMARAI have definitely asked for specific figures.
§ * MR. SPEAKERI did not so read it, and it seems that the Colonial Secretary did not so read it.
§ DR. MACNAMARAVery well, Sir, I will put it down in a more specific form.