§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received information in reference to the circular of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association, dated 17th March, in which it was stated that in future no natives would be recruited in Basutoland and Orange River Colony, except for a period of not less than twelve months; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. LYTTELTON, Warwick and Leamington)I have now received the report of the executive committee of the Transvaal Chamber of Mines, dated 13th April, which contains the following statement:—"Instructions have been issued to the agents of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association in Cape Colony, Orange River Colony, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, and Rhodesia that in future natives must be engaged for a period of twelve months for underground work, and in the Transvaal and Swaziland for a minimum of eight months. This will remove the disadvantage previously experienced of the boys' engagements expiring shortly after they have received sufficient training to enable them to perform their work satisfactorily." Previously the minimum period in the case of Basutoland and the Orange River Colony was four months. But the natives arriving from their homes and offering their services locally are to be engaged for a minimum period of three months. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONWill not that tend to limit the number of Kaffir labourers engaged in the mines?
§ [The Answer was inaudible.]