§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the agreement arrived at between the Transvaal Government and the British-Indians in January last suspended the Registration law in favour 1551 of voluntary re-registration; whether British-Indians then absent from the Transvaal, but entitled to return, were included; and whether he will inform this House as to the reported decision of the Transvaal Government to exclude some 5,000 of such absent British-Indians unless they comply with the Registration Law.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe terms of the settlement are printed in the Blue-book Cd. 3892, and the latest official information received showed that registration was proceeding satisfactorily. I have no information with regard to the 5,000 Indians referred to in the Question, but I cannot suppose that the Transvaal Government at any time contemplated such an addition to the resident Indian population. Inquiry shall be made on the subject.