DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)I beg to ask the Under-secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of the Transvaal have passed a new Gold Law; whether his attention has been drawn to Sections 127 and 128 thereof, which deprive coloured persons of their right to acquire mining rights and to reside or trade within the areas of Johannesburg, Boksburg, and Krugersdorp, save in locations specially set apart; whether the term coloured person includes British-Indians lawfully resident within the Colony; whether any provision is made for compensation of such British-Indian merchants and others who are to be thus deprived of their existing rights; and whether he will make friendly representations to the Government of the Transvaal with a view to the elimination or modification of the disabilities above referred to.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe attention of the Secretary of State was drawn some time ago to the Bill, and more particularly to the clauses referred to, and he is already in communication with the Transvaal Government on the subject. Pending a reply from the Colonial Government whose attention has again been called to the question I am not in a position to make a statement as to the effect of the Bill.