§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he caused the registers of shareholders at Somerset House to be searched in order to ascertain the extent of British interests in South African mines, and brought the result to the knowledge of his colleagues before their policy as regards the Transvaal and Orange River Colony was decided upon; and further if he can inform the House how many of His Majesty's subjects in the United Kingdom, in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and elsewhere are registered as such shareholders.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI did not cause the registers of shareholders at Somerset House to be searched in order to ascertain the extent of British interests in South African mines, nor would any such search be of value inasmuch as nearly all the South African mining companies of any importance are registered in South Africa. For this reason I am unable to inform the House how many of His Majesty's subjects in the United Kingdom, in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and elsewhere are registered as shareholders in South African mining companies.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the statement that there are upwards of 200,000 shareholders in this country and 60,000 abroad, and is there no information at the Board of Trade on that subject?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEAll the information is in South Africa, and if the hon. Gentleman wishes to get it he had better put a Question to the Under-Secretary for the Colonies.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI will do so now.
§ * MR. CHURCHILLI am afraid I must ask for notice.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Can the President of the Board of Trade tell us how many of these shareholders are bears and how many bulls?
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)And how many asses amongst them.