§ MR. TOULMIN (Bury, Lancashire)To ask the Under-Secretary for the Colonies how many licences for indentured Chinese were issued in the Transvaal and the date of the last issued licences; the amount of wastage through death, repatriation, or any other cause before and since 31st December, 1905; and the number now employed on the mines.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) The total number of licences issued was 526 63,043 (exclusive of 3,000 for the Randfontein group of mines, which the owners agreed to surrender). The last of these licences was issued on 18th November, 1905. The total amount of wastage from all causes was, up to 31st December, 1905, approximately 3,500, and since that date approximately 3,600. The total number of coolies employed on 31st December, 1906, was 52,917.