§ MR. HERBERT SAMUEL (Yorkshire, Cleveland)To ask the Secretary 173 of State for the Colonies if he can state how many machine-drills worked by white men have been replaced by hand-drills worked by Chinese labourers in the Van Ryn and other mines of the Rand; how many white men previously engaged in this occupation are now unemployed; and how many have been transferred to other work at lower wages.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) I am not in possession of the details desired by the right hon. Member. The information which I have received is to the effect that machine-drilling can only be properly employed in broad seams, and that resort to it in narrow seams is undesirable in the interest of the safety of the mines and the economic working of the ore. I am further informed that the change from machine to hand working under such circumstances is not likely to lead to a reduction in white skilled labour.