§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has official information to the effect that all the Chinese coolies employed on the Transvaal gold mines at piecework rates are now actually in receipt of wages of not less than Is. 6d. a day.
§ * MR. LYTTELTONNo, Sir. Under the contract the Chinese are at liberty
† See (4) Debates, cxlix., 862.1159 to take piecework at, which they can, and do, earn considerably more than 1s. 6d. a day, or day-work at a minimum wage of 1s. 6d.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELAm I to understand that all the coolies who take piecework are actually earning more than 1s. 6d. a day?
§ * MR. LYTTELTONI have no information, but I have no reason to doubt that is the case.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the most serious of the riots that have taken place on the Rand was due to the resistance offered by the coolies to the proposal that they should do piecework?
§ * MR. LYTTELTONNo, Sir, the hon. Gentleman's information is incorrect. In consequence of the hon. Gentleman's statement on a former occasion, that the coolies were induced by coercion to sign the contract for piecework, I communicated with Lord Selborne. I have just received his reply, in which Lord Selborne states that the superintendent of foreign labour explained the proposal as to piecework to the coolies, that they received ten days to think it over, and that at the end of the period they all practically accepted it.
§ MR. J. A. PEASE (Essex, Saffron Walden)asked whether it was not the fact that the majority of coolies could drill only fifteen inches per day, and that, consequently, on piecework their daily earnings would be less than 1s. 6d.
§ * Mr. LYTTELTONMy information is totally at variance with that statement. Any ordinary coolie can drill at least thirty-six inches a day, and many of them drill more than that amount.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)Having regard to the promises made to these men before they came to South Africa, cannot the right hon. Gentleman secure them a minimum wage of Is. 6d. per day?
§ * Mr. LYTTELTONIf they ask for a minimum wage they get it. If they choose piecework, understanding they will earn more by it, they can do so.
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELDid not the right hon. Gentleman inform me on the 11th April that a serious riot had broken out in one of the mines owing to the resistance of the coolies to the pressure put on them to consent to piecework.
§ * Mr. LYTTELTONLord Selborne's telegram shows conclusively it was not
§ MR. HERBERT SAMUELI would read the right hon. Gentleman's reply if it were in order.
§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)How many coolies are actually earning less than Is. 6d. per day?
§ Mr. CROOKS (Woolwich)Is it not customary when piecework is introduced to induce men to do over and above the work usually done at day rates so that the minimum is always secured and the men reap the advantage of the extra work?
§ * Mr. LYTTELTONWhere does the hon. Member mean it is customary?
§ MR. CROOKSIn your own Departments and in the Royal Arsenal. [MINISTERIAL interruption.] Hon. Members opposite may shout. The Chinese slave has no pal.
§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)Is it explained to these coolies that by accepting piecework they lose the benefit of the protection of the right hon. Gentleman's promise that they should earn not less than 1s. 6d. per day.
§ * MR. LYTTELTONThe coolies are quite competent to consider it for themselves.
§ MR. WHITLEYThat is not an Answer to my Question.
§ * MR. LYTTELTONI do not think it would be explained. I do not think it is the fact. If a man chooses to revert to day-work at the termination of his piecework he can get the minimum wage applicable to day work.