§ MR. BELLOC (Salford, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the threat of shutting down the gold mines in the Transvaal; and whether, seeing that under Section 140 of Law No. 15of 1898, as amended on 18th September, 1899, the right is expressly reserved to the Government to call upon the owner to work the mine, and, upon his refusal to do so, to take over whatever mining rights may have been granted to him, he proposes to take such action in case of this threat being carried into execution.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThis Question has been pit several times before, and I would refer the hon. Member to the answer of the Under-Secretary for the Colonies on the 9th instant. There is nothing further to say on the subject.
§ MR. BELLOCThe last part of the Question has not been answered before
§ MR. RUNCIMANYes.
§ MR. BELLOCWhat do the Government intend to do?
§ MR. RUNCIMANThat Question has been answered before.