§ MAJOR SEELYI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the continued danger to life and property caused by the Chinese coolies on the Witwatersrand and adjacent areas in the Transvaal, His Majesty's Government will consider the propriety of stopping any further importation under the 8,000 permits still outstanding, or of imposing a time limit in the near future, after which all importation shall cease.
§ MR. CHURCHILLHis Majesty's Government are led to believe that the improvements which are being carried out in the management and control of the Chinese labourers will not prove ineffective in preventing the dangers mentioned. The question of fixing a time limit after which all importation under existing permits shall cease will be considered.
§ MAJOR SEELYWhat are the improvements referred to in the Answer?
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Member had been constant in his attendance at Question time he would hare heard me read out a list, one day last week, I think it was.†
§ MAJOR SEELYI have been constantly here.
§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)When will these changes be considered? It is long since they were promised. Does the Secre-
† See (4) Debates, clviii., 1361.1128 tary of State fully appreciate the profound dissatisfaction at the delay—
§ * MR. SPEAKERNotice must be given of that Question.
§ MAJOR SEELYMay I say neither I nor my friends around me understand what the Undor-Secretary is proposing in the form of improvements?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI will refer hon. Members to the Answer I gave to a Question on the subject last week.†
§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)asked whether, in view of the fact that these licences were issued last November, it was not nearly time the importations fell short.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI think it is nearly time.
§ MR. PAUL (Northampton)Who is to pay the cost of the improvements?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe cost of the improvements which involve expenditure of money will fall on the mine-owners themselves.