HC Deb 26 November 1906 vol 165 cc1232-3
CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese coolies employed in the mines in South Africa requested to be repatriated on the ground of dissatisfaction with the conditions of their employment; how many complained of their condition of employment as being servile or tantamount to slavery; and in how many cases were applicants for repatriation under the above headings actually sent back to their homes at the expense of the Government.

THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RUNCIMAN, Dewsbury), for Mr. CHURCHILL

Irrespective of those who applied under the Repatriation Proclamation, about 1,000 coolies have paid for the cost of their own return passages, being dissatisfied with the conditions or for other reasons. The precise number of the applications under the Proclamation is not known, nor is it known how many have complained of their condition as being servile, but 552 applicants have been sent back and over 100 will have been approved for state-aided repatriation.

* SIR. H. COTTON

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the total number of Chinese coolies repatriated from South Africa up to the end of October, showing separately how many wore repatriated at their own expense, and how many under the terms of the repatriation proclamation issued by the Government.

MR. RUNCIMAN

The total number of Chinese sent back to China is about 6,500, of whom about 1,000 purchased their discharges, and 552 have so far been repatriated by Government, and others have since applied.

* SIR H. COTTON

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if 1,194 Chinese coolies were repatriated in October for reasons other than gross immorality and crime; and, if so, whether he can state on what grounds they were repatriated.

MR. RUNCIMAN

Of the 1,184 coolies repatriated in October for reasons other than immorality and crime, 437 purchased their discharge, 462 were permanently or partially disabled by sickness or otherwise, and 285 were repatriated under the Government scheme of State-aided repatriation.

AN HON. MEMBER: Why did they purchase their discharge?

MR. RUNCIMAN

I presume they were not satisfied with the conditions under which they were labouring.