HC Deb 18 December 1906 vol 167 c1267
MR. MOLTENO (Dumfriesshire)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state what was the number of natives in each of the last five years who rendered compulsory labour to the Public Works Department of Natal, and what relation the wages at the rate of £1 per month and rations bear to the current rate of wages, as complaint has been made by the natives that they are compelled to work for less than half the current rate of wages.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. Churchill, Manchester, N.W.)

The numbers of natives employed in Public Works Department of Natal and Zululand were:—1901, 6,708; 1902, 6,403; 1903, 6,175; 1904, 5,677. Total number employed in all departments in 1905 was 5,382. The number employed in Public Works Department is not stated. The wages of £1 per month and rations appears to be in excess of the wages for farm labour. The information at my disposal does not enable me to say what amount of justification there may be in the alleged complaint.