§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that' a deputation representing 6,000 skilled artisans have declared to Lord Selborne that if the scheme of repatriating the Chinese coolies in the Transvaal is carried out, 7,000 whites will lose their employment; and whether the posters in the mines will be removed.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThe information received by the Secretary of State from Lord Selborne is that a deputation of working men delegated from a mass meeting of 3,000 minors hold at Boksberg came to see him at Pretoria, also a deputation from meeting of miners in Simmor and Jack and Glen Deep Mines, and other bodies of minors were represented. They expressed great alarm at the possible results of the posters, and showed intense anxiety lest the industry should be dislocated and many of them lose their employment. No mention is made in Lord Selborne's telegram of their having said that 7,000 men would lose their employment. Resolutions in a contrary sense have been received by Lord Selborne from the Independent Labour Party and from Pretoria Lodge of the South African Operative Masons' Society. His Majesty's Government having determined their policy on this matter after sufficient deliberation, do not propose to remove the posters.