MAJOR SEELYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the total number of deaths which occurred in the year 1903 amongst the natives employed on the Rand Mines.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI am afraid I cannot give an answer to that Question with absolute precision. I think my hon. and gallant friend and I were at cross purposes the other night with regard to some figures that were quoted. As far as I can surmise, I think my hon. 1014 and gallant friend was quoting one period and one area, while I was quoting another. As far as I can ascertain, the present situation is that in the earlier months of 1903 and the end of 1902 the average rate of mortality was 57 per 1,000. I am not speaking with absolute precision, but taking the whole of 1903 and the present year up to April, the figure rose, to 66 per 1,000. My hon. and gallant friend mentioned a figure of 90 per 1,000; that I am not able to follow, I expect, because we have been referring to different periods.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman draw up some Return and lay it on the Table, to show the basis on which his figures as to those in employment were based, and also as to the proportion of mortality among those employed.
§ MR. LYTTELTONThat is a perfectly legitimate demand, with which I will certainly comply.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is unable to answer the Question which the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight has asked, namely, what was the actual number of natives who died on the Rand Mines in 1903—not per 1,000, but the total number.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI cannot do that absolutely, because the figures have got confused owing to the number being taken of the labourers employed in mining operations throughout the Transvaal and not specifically on the Rand. I will inquire.