MR. MACKAKNESS (Berkshire, Newbury)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state the number of Chinese coolies who deserted from the gold mines in the Transvaal during the months of March, April, and May respectively.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI have only the returns for March and April; that for May has not yet arrived. The total number of convictions for the three offences—absence without permit, desertion, and unlawful absence—were in March 1,169, and in April 821.