§ MR. THOMAS SHAW (Hawick Burghs)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether there has been any importation of Asiatic labour into Southern Rhodesia under the Ordinance of 1902, set out in Paper Cd. 1200 of that year: and, if so, to what extent; whether any condition was imposed that the Ordinance should not apply to the importation of Chinese labour, and should, with regard to other labour, only become operative after sanction of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and what action was taken by the Secretary of State: whether he can see his way to lay upon the Table a continuation of the Correspondence relating to the supply of labour in Rhodesia, Cd. 1200 of 1902; and whether sanction to the proposed Ordinance with regard to imported labour for the Transvaal will be withheld until the Rhodesian Papers have been laid.
§ MR. LYTTELTON(1.) The answer is in the negative. (2.) I have to refer the hon. Member to a letter at page 74 of Cd. 1200 in which the British South Africa Company were informed by Mr. Chamberlain on 26th June, 1901, that any scheme for introducing Chinese labour must be considered separately, and after it has been fully discussed locally. The sanction of the Secretary of State is required under the Ordinance No. 3 of 1902 but has not been given as yet. (3.) The correspondence is not sufficiently complete to be laid upon the Table at present, but I expect to be able to do so at an early date. (4.) I am not prepared to give the pledge asked for.
§ MR. MARKHAMWill the right hon. Gentleman in this case take a vote of the Colonists?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! Notice must be given of that.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)Will the Papers be laid before the right hon. Gentleman arrives at a final decision?
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have answered that.
§ MR. MARKHAMWill you answer my Question?
§ *MR. SPEAKERIt is not in order.