§ MR. MACKARNESSTo ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Transvaal Government mining engineer, at page 150 of Blue-book Cd. 2819, that the year before the advent of the Chinese there was one white labourer employed in the mines to every five coloured ones, and that the year after their advent there was only one white labourer employed to every eight coloured ones; and whether he has any official information showing any other reason than the advent of the Chinese for the falling off in the proportion of white men employed.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The Secretary of State has noticed the statement referred to. While the number of white men employed has increased, the falling off in the proportion they bear to coloured labourers is no doubt due to the increase of unskilled coloured labour, whether Chinese or native.