CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the advisability of recommending that a limit be placed on the time during which the new repatriation notices are to be posted in the Transvaal mines, so that, in the event of coolies at present at work, or arriving in the near future, being satisfied that the conditions of indentured labour do not constitute slavery, no further inducement to break their contracts may be held out to them, thus securing a definite settled policy to the mining industry.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N.W.No limit will be placed upon the operation of the repatriation notice during such time as His Majesty's Government may retain any direct responsibility for the conduct of Transvaal affairs.
CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the new Government repatriation notices posted up in the Transvaal mines, the bare statement of any Chinese coolie that he considers the present conditions of indentured labour constitute slavery will be a sufficient plea to justify his demand for immediate repatriation at Government expense without further inquiry.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe hon. and gallant Member will be able to satisfy
†See (4) Debates clvii., 172405 himself by careful and intelligent scrutiny of the terms of the notice which I read to the House that such a bare statement would not necessarily be deemed conclusive in itself.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)Arising out of that Answer, will the hon. Gentleman state when a copy of the translation I asked for previously will be ready.
§ MR. CHURCHILLsaid that he received the hon. Member's Question before he went away, and promised that he would ask the Secretary of State for a translation to be made, informing him that the hon. Member was willing, if necessary, to bear half the cost of telegraphing. During his absence he had not been able to bring this matter to the notice of the Secretary of State. Inquiries had been made by the ordinary mail, and it was scarcely worth while at this juncture that a telegram should be sent.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEYIt will give me more time to master the language.
§ MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state the number of Chinese coolies employed in the Transvaal mines who have applied to be repatriated under the terms of the notices recently issued; and what will be the cost to the Treasury of returning them to China.
§ MR. CHURCHILLLord Selborne has reported that so far twelve Chinese coolies have applied to be repatriated. The cost to the Treasury will not exceed £17 10s. each.