§ EARL WINTERTON (Sussex, Horsham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in, view of the admitted difficulty of obtaining sufficient labour in South Africa for the Transvaal mines, His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of sanctioning the importation of more Chinese labourers on, so far as possible, the same terms as the Kaffir labourers, but with due regard to the 1741 prevention of their permanent settlement in South Africa, before they sanction the importation of other labourers from outside sources, among whom the mortality is likely to be far higher.
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf the importation of Chinese for labour on the mines in South Africa as advocated by the noble Lord were under the same conditions as the natives of that country are employed, no special legislation imposing fresh distinctions between race and race might be required, and the question would not, I presume, fall in the category of Bills specially reserved under the constitution. It is, there-fore, to the Government and people of the Transvaal that the noble Lord should address his missionary efforts on behalf of the free importation of Chinese. In view of the known opinions of the overwhelming majority of the Colonists, both Dutch and British, his exertions will be watched with interest.
§ EARL WINTERTONWill the Government have any objection to sanctioning this importation?
§ MR. CHURCHILLEither an Ordinance proposing special restrictions will be needed, or it will not be needed. If an Ordinance is needed, then I think it will be time to consider that Ordinance when it reaches this House.