§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to the fact that there are now 40,000 Chinese coolies on the Rand, and to the fact that Sir George Farrar, in commending the introduction of the Chinese coolies to the people of the Transvaal, mentioned from 20,000 to 30,000 coolies as the limit of requirement, to the fact that Lord Lansdowne, in another place, gave the assurance, on February 12th, 1904, that the proposal of the Government was to try the experiment of introducing Chinese coolies to the Transvaal on a limited scale, and to the fact that constant rioting is taking place among the coolies, he will now put a limit to the further importation of Chinese coolies into the Transvaal.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON, Warwick and Leamington)I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by me to a Question of his of similar tenor on February 23rd.† It is not the fact, according to my information, that constant rioting is taking place among the coolies.
§ DR. MACNAMARAHaving regard to the facts set out in the Question, will the Government now put a limit to this importation?
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have nothing to add to my previous Answer to that Question.
§ DR. MACNAMARAThen the purport of the Answer is that it is intended to continue the importation of Chinese coolies.
§ MR. LYTTELTONThat depends entirely upon the necessities of the mines, and on the opinion of the Transvaal Government.