MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will give the latest information received from the Transvaal Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, in reference to the number of natives distributed to the mines during February by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association; whether he will state what was the increase in the native supply of labour during February last, and what was the 973 total number of natives employed in the mines at the end of the month referred to; and whether these facts are receiving the consideration of the Government in connection with their final decision as to the Transvaal Chinese Labour Ordinance.
*MR. LYTTELIONA loss of seventy-four in January was converted into a gain of 1,199 in February. The natives distributed in February were 6,263 of whom 223 were allotted to the railways. The total number employed was 69,966. The returns continue to engage my attention, but these fluctuations do not appear to me to affect the situation appreciably.