§ MR. SEYMOUR ORMSBY-GORE (Lincolnshire, Gainsborough)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will say whether he has received from Lord Milner any estimate of the number of Asiatics proposed to be introduced into the Transvaal; and whether Asiatics recruited from British territory will be permitted to work in the Transvaal mines.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON,) Warwick and LeamingtonI have received no definite estimate from Lord Milner, but for the present the introduction of these labourers must admittedly be of the nature of an experiment. It is not proposed to recruit British Indians for the mines, but if any Chinese British subjects desire to go, they would be permitted to do so.
§ MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider that decision with a view to facilitating the exportation to South Africa of natives of Asia Minor from the neighbourhood of Park-lane and Throgmorton Street?
§ [No answer was returned.]