§ SIR BRAMPTON GURDON (Norfolk, N.)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to the disturbances in the Transvaal on the 11th and 12th December last between Kaffirs and Chinese, alleged to be consequent on the interference of Chinamen with women in Kaffir kraals, resulting in several deaths; whether a report on the circumstances which caused these disturbances has been or will be called for; and whether His Majesty"s Government is satisfied with the extent to which the provisions of the Chinese Labour Ordinance as regards communications between Chinese labourers and outsiders are being enforced.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I have seen a newspaper account of the 1216 disturbances, and I will call for a report on the circumstances in continuation of previous reports which I have received. With regard to the alleged cause, I may say that the information I have received at a later date than their occurrence is that no real difficulty had yet arisen out of the relations between Chinamen and Kaffir women, and that no serious trouble is apprehended in the future. I am not aware that there is cause for dissatisfaction in regard to the enforcement of the provisions of the Labour Ordinance to which reference is made.