§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state whether licences for the recruiting of native labourers on the east coast of Africa or elsewhere have been issued to any persons other than the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association; and, if not, will he state what is the cause of the delay.
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo fresh licences have, so far as I am aware, been issued at present. The issue of licences, I would remind the hon. Member, is primarily a matter for the Portuguese Government, and negotiations are now proceeding with the object of obtaining equal recruiting facilities for other corporations of established responsibility. No undue delay is anticipated.
† See (i) Debates, cliii., 1400.