§ MR. MACKARNESS (Berkshire, Newbury)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state what stops have been taken by the Transvaal authorities to bring to justice Withaner, the manager of the compound in the Crœsus Mine, for the 27 admitted flogging of Chinese coolies as alleged in a report made to Lord Selborne by the superintendent of Foreign labour more than two months ago; and whether any reason has been given for the delay on the part of the authorities in taking proceedings in this case.
§ MR. CHURCHILLLord Selborne telegraphed to the Secretary of State on June 30th that the case was in the hands of the Public Prosecutor, Johannesburg, who was issuing a summons for July 2nd, and that the delay had been unavoidable.
§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)asked whether in mines worked under conditions similar to those in the Transvaal it was possible to get the requisite amount of work out of man without some form of torture.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI must ask the hon. Gentleman for notice of that Question.