§ Mr. DUNN (Cornwall, Camborne)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Mr. Howard Pimhas been dismissed from his position as auditor of certain gold-mining companies because he declined to give an undertaking not to contest a seat in the legislative Assembly of the Transvaal Colony to be elected pursuant to His Majesty's Order in Council just issued; whether Mr. Schumacher, chairman of 1021 the Jumpers Deep (one of the companies referred to), admitted, at a meeting held yesterday, that the sole reason of Mr. Pim's dismissal was the political reason; whether the Municipal Election Ordinance, 1903, as adapted in the Letters Patent to elections for the Legislative Assembly, renders such intimidation a criminal offence, and, if so, will the necessary steps be taken to insure prosecution and, if such.Municipal Election Ordinance, 1903, fails to deal with intimidation of the nature referred to, whether any, and, if any, what, steps will be taken to insure that the ensuing elections shall be free from intimidation and corruption.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI have seen statements of the kind referred to in the Press, but no official information on the subject has been received. Inquiry shall be made.