§ MR. WHITLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can now give the number of native convicts in the Transvaal Colony, and State how many are hired out for labour in the mines; and if he can say under what law natives, at the termination of a sentence, are sent to the mines against their will.
§ *MR. LYTTELTONThe total number of sentenced prisoners on 31st March of this year was 2,249. 875 were employed on the mines. I have no knowledge of any such practice as is referred to in the last part of the Question.
§ MR. WHITLEYDoes not the Blue-book issued last week contain information n this very point?
§ *MR. LYTTELTONI think not.
§ MR. CROOKSWho receives the wages of these convicts?
§ MR.WHITLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire as to the existence of the practice? Is it the custom after the sentence on a native has expired to hand him over to forced labour in the mines?
§ MR. LYTTELTONCertainly I will inquire. I do not think that such a practice exists; but I quite agree that if I it does it should be at once determined.