§ MR. BENNETT (Oxfordshire, Woodstock)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, before the outbreak of the present revolt in Natal, Colonel Leuchar's field force destroyed kraals belonging to black subjects of the King and raided 1,000 head of oxen and 3,000 sheep and goats; whether he can inform the House who received the money paid for these looted cattle when they were sold by public auction between March 16th and March 22nd; and whether, in view of the effect upon the rebellion of the suffering and starvation of Zulu women and children entailed by such destruction of dwellings and food supplies, he proposes to take any steps to prevent any further destruction of kraals or food supplies.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The hon. Member will see from the papers published last week the circumstances in which Colonel Leuchars took action against the chief Gobizembe, and in which the chief was fined 1,200 cattle and 3,500 sheep and goats for serious acts of defiance The money received for these cattle was presumably paid into the Natal Treasury. There is no reason to believe that there will be any destruction of kraals or seizure of food supplies, except on the ground that such action is necessary to prevent the spread of rebellion; and the Secretary of State is not prepared to take steps in the matter as suggested.