§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state what steps are being taken by the Government to clear out of the Chinese compounds on the Rand all persons addicted to unnatural vice; whether the duty has been entrusted to the same officials who have hitherto failed to detect the offenders; and, if so, what further powers have been conferred upon them to insure that the work will be done more effectively than it was before.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI understand that a careful search for such persons is being made in all the compounds. The officials and others entrusted with this work are those who know the Chinese coolies and their conditions best; and the mine managers themselves are fully alive to the importance from their own point of view of eradicating this grave source of evil. No further powers beyond those vested in the High Commissioner have been conferred, and as those powers in regard to the deportation of undesirable characters are already absolute and plenary, no extension of them is necessary or indeed possible.
§ MR. MACKARNESSHave any special instructions been given to these officials?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANGeneral instructions, not detailed instructions as to the particular method and time.