§ MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the sanction of His Majesty's Government must first be obtained before the issuing of the Proclamation by the Governor legalising the importation of Chinese indentured labour into the Transvaal; and, if so, for how long a period it is proposed to withhold such sanction.
§ *MR. LYTTELTONThe sanction of His Majesty's Government is not constitutionally or legally necessary. I cannot at present say when the Governor will be in a position to issue the Proclamation in question.
§ MAJOR SEELYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in point of fact the sanction of the Government will be given before this Proclamation is issued?
§ *MR. LYTTELTONI have said, Sir, it is not necessary.
§ MAJOR SEELYAm I to understand that in point of fact the Proclamation will be issued without further reference to His Majesty's Government, 1394 or is the House to understand that the Proclamation may be issued by the Governor without reference to this country or to the Government?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman is not bound to answer. The Question can be put down if the answer to it is not included in the answer already given.
§ MAJOR SEELYDoes the right hon. Gentleman refuse to answer?
§ *MR. LYTTELTONI do not refuse to answer, but I ask that proper notice should be given of the Question, as I have already had experience of the difficulty of answering off-hand hypothetical Questions.
§ MAJOR SEELYI purpose, and deem it important, to put down this Question.