§ DR. MACNAMARAI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a statement in the South African News of February 4th to the effect that at the monthly meeting of the Johannesburg Trades and Labour Council a number of complaints were made regarding the employment in Johannesburg of Chinese coolies in trades hitherto solely followed by white mechanics, and to the statement that the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners complained that Chinese coolies were making and fixing sashes and frames in Terreira township; and whether he will make inquiries of Lord Milner as to these alleged breaches of the Ordinance.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have seen the newspaper statement referred to. I will make inquiry, but the statement implies that attention was to be called to the alleged breach in the ordinary way. It must be remembered that there were a certain number of Chinese in the Transvaal before the passing of the Asiatic Labour Ordinance and that to these the restrictions in that Ordinance do not apply.