§ EARL WINTERTONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will grant a Return showing the mortality per month since January 1906, among the following classes of labourers working in the Transvaal mines: South African Kaffir natives, Central African natives, Nyasaland natives, Portuguese Territory natives, and Chinese.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe information, is not in the possession of the Colonial Office, but the Secretary of State will ask the Transvaal Government if they will furnish it for presentation to Parliament
SIR GILBEET PARKERMay I ask if, in view of the paternal position which this Government has taken up through granting the Transvaal a Constitution, the hon. Gentleman would ask that Government to keep them supplied regularly with facts concerning the position of the natives?
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir; the constitutional position of this country is very clearly defined and I do not think I can modify it.
§ MR. LYTTELTON (St. George's, Hanover Square)Are we to understand that these natives for whom His Majesty's Government have a special responsibility, are to be ignored in this matter?
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. The right hon. Gentleman is well aware of the conditions under which legislations is reserved in the Transvaal Constitution. Apart from that, there is no power to deal with the internal affairs of the Transvaal.
§ MR. LYTTELTONThis is not an internal matter; it is a matter external to the Transvaal Government peculiarly affecting natives under His Majesty's protection.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI do not see how it affects natives under His Majesty's protection.