§ * MR. SMEATONI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many Chinese coolies were employed in the Transvaal mines in January, 1906; how many are employed at the present time; and by what date it is expected that all the Chinese coolies will be repatriated.
§ COLONEL SEELY47,166 Chinese were employed in the Transvaal mines in January, 1906. On 31st October last—the latest figure which I have—there were, I understand, 12,317. The last of the coolies should be leaving South Africa in January, 1910.
§ MR. SMEATONIs 47,000 the maximum number?
§ COLONEL SEELYNo; the maximum has been something over 50,000.