§ Mr. GUY BARING (Winchester)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any official information alleging that there is a deficiency of native labour both for agricultural purposes and railway construction throughout South Africa; and whether he will lay Papers upon the Table.
§ MR. CHURCHILLInformation as to the deficiency of native labour is contained in the last Blue-book. A statement by Lord Selborne may be referred to at page 64 of Cd. 2819. To what extent the supply is capable of increase cannot be definitely anticipated, but it appears that in April last there was a larger supply of native labour in the Transvaal than at any previous period. It has since-decreased to some extent.