§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the 843 Colonies whether at the opening of the Transvaal Parliament the Governor made a speech referring to the condition of the gold mining industry, and the effect upon it of the policy of repatriating the Chinese labourers; and whether he has official information of what was said by Lord Selborne on that occasion.
§ COLONEL SEELYYes, Sir. The speech contains the following statement: "The policy as regards indentured Chinese labourers which was adopted last session has been justified by complete success. Since March, 1907, and up to the end of May last, 31,157 Chinese labourers had already been repatriated, while the number of native labourers coming from all parts of South Africa to the mines has been and continues to be more than sufficient for all requirements. It is satisfactory also to note that while the gold output has been steadily increasing, the cost of mining has been undergoing steady reductions, and as a result of the efforts of the Government and of the leaders of the mining industry, that industry is to-day on a sounder basis than ever before, both as regards its present position and further expansion."