§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)I beg to ask the Secretary for the Colonies whether he will inquire what number of Chinese coolies employed in the Transvaal at piecework rates are now receiving leas than 1s. 6d. a day.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON,) Warwick and LeamingtonI have no reason to believe that any Chinese coolies are earning less than 1s. 6d. a day on piecework. If the hon. Member has any evidence which he thinks trustworthy and on which he has based his Question and will communicate it to me, I shall be able to judge of the necessity of inquiring.
§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state how many of the Chinese on the Rand are now working at piecework rates; and how many of these are actually earning less than the guaranteed minimum of 1s. 6d. a day.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI will ask Lord Selborne to supply me with the numbers, if he is able to do so. In reply to the latter part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I have just given to the hon. Member for Cleveland.
§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)In view of the promise made by the right hon. Gentleman, is it not his business to see that the coolies do get the minimum of 1s. 6d. per day?