MR. CLEMENT EDWARDS (Denbigh District)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if, when the terms of the Transvaal Labour Ordinance were first posted at the recruiting stations in China, the Chinese
† See (4) Debates, clviii, 1361.1130 equivalent for tremble and obey constituted part of such posters.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe posting of the Labour Ordinance in China did not constitute a proclamation under the local authority; and, in the circumstances, it seems not unlikely, though the Secretary of State has no certain information, that the admonitions which usually conclude official proclamations did not form a part of the notice.
§ MR. J. WARDHave any further requests been made for repatriation beyond the jury of twelve already announced?
§ MR. CHURCHILLYes; forty-three labourers in all have applied according to the latest report, and we are expecting a further report very shortly.
MR. CLEMENT EDWARDSWhat is the distinction between an ordinary proclamation and one issued under the Labour Ordinance?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI suppose there is a difference between notices issued by mine-owners inviting labour and those issued under the authority of the Government.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThose published in China certainly were not.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)What is the use of sending forty-throe labourers back to China if you admit 8,000 more into South Africa?
§ [No Answer was returned.]