MR. HUNTER CRAIG (Lanarkshire, Govan)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that many thousands of natives, a considerable number of whom had achieved positions as farmers equal or superior to many of 533 the poorer class of whites, who were removed (luring the war from the Thaba N'Chu, De Wet's Dorp, and Thaba Pachoa districts of the Orange River Colony, have not been permitted to return; and, if so, will he say whether the prevention of their repatriation has received the sanction of His Majesty's Government; and whether the natives in question, in consideration of services formerly rendered to the late Government of the Orange Free State, held a servitude over the lands formerly occupied by them.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I am informed by Lord Milner that no natives who had a right to be in Thaba N'Chu location have been refused permission to return or remain there, but more than 5,000 natives from other districts who had found their way there for various reasons during the war have been repatriated by the Native Commissioner to their homes in other parts of the colony. As regards De Wet's Dorp and Thaba Pachoa, Lord Milner states that he has no reason to believe that any natives have been prevented from returning, but that he will make further inquiries. Every effort has been made to obtain a judicial decision upon rights of natives in Thaba N'Chu district, but so far without result, though Government was willing to pay expenses. I am promised a full report by mail.