§ MR. FULLERTON (Cumberland, Egremont)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the desirability of preventing the importation into South Africa of such of the 16,199 coolies whose licences were signed between the 12th and 18th of November last, but who have not yet arrived in South Africa, and prevent the expenditure of £17 10s. per head, the estimated cost of repatriation.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) His Majesty's Government have been advised that they cannot lawfully prevent the importations in question; and their policy in respect of Chinese indentured labour has received in its integrity the support of the House of Commons. It is not now possible to reconsider 1284 it. Any contradiction which may exist between this importation and the new scheme for repatriation must be attributed to the clear differences in view and purpose which distinguish the present administration from the old.