§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Kaffirs were discharged from the mines of the Transvaal during the past six months; and also how many Chinamen have been employed as skilled workers during the same period.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI cannot state how many Kaffirs were discharged from the mines of the Transvaal during the period in question; but the number of 114 native labourers employed has remained practically unchanged, there having been 94,277 on 31st March, and 93,803 on 30th September, a reduction of only 474. Upon the question of how many Chinamen have been employed as skilled labourers, my hon. friend is no doubt, aware that such employment is prohibited under section 9 (a) of Ordinance No. 17 of 1904; and the information at my disposal does not enable me to say whether such regulation has been in any way infringed. But my hon. friend may perhaps be interested to observe that the ratio of white men to coloured of all races was in May, 1904, before the importation of Chinese began, as 10 to 59, whereas to-day it is as 10 to 84, and the number of white men employed per 100 stamps was 250, whereas to-day it is 210.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKERI think the hon. Gentleman—unintentionally no doubt—has reversed the figures concerning the natives? Did he not convey the idea recently that Chinamen were displacing white skilled labour?
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf the hon. Gentleman asks me a Question regarding statistics, I do my very best to supply him with the Answer he wishes.