§ MR. MACKARNESS (Berkshire, Newbury)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that during the last six months the Chinese labourers who have escaped from the Transvaal mines have committed upwards of fifty serious crimes upon the peaceable inhabitants of the Colony, including at least eight murders and many cases of housebreaking and assault; and what steps the Government intend to take to prevent the continuance of this evil.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Secretary of State for the Colonies informs me that he has not yet received the Return of the crimes moved for by my hon. friend on the 21st of February, and he is therefore not aware whether the numbers stated in the Question are correct. He is asking Lord Selborne to indicate his views as to what further steps are possible to prevent crimes of 1265 this nature. I am satisfied that the Transvaal Government are fully alive to the necessity of effectually checking such outrages.