HC Deb 12 July 1906 vol 160 cc1051-2
MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a record has been kept of the names of the firms or persons to whom the 16,000 licenses were issued in November last for the importation of Chinese coolies into the Transvaal; and, if so, whether he has any objection to state for whom the last two shiploads of coolies were brought to the Rand, and for whom the remaining 8,000 licences were issued.

MR. CHURCHILL

The information is not in possession of the Colonial Office, but I will ask for it.

MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any action has been taken by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to prevent further importations of Chinese labourers into South Africa; and whether a date has been fixed for cancelling the licenses remaining unused which were granted by the late Cabinet during their last week's term of office.

MR. CHURCHILL

I would remind the hon. Member of the action taken by the Secretary of State, in fixing a time-limit for the further importations, as stated by me in this House on the 5th instant, †