§ LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the death rate of Chinese and African coolies in South Africa, respectively, from disease and other causes, and what are those causes.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe last Transvaal quarterly return of mortality of mine employees to 30th June last is as follows. The figures show the rate per thousand:—Accidents, yellow, 4.870; black, 3.139. Homicide and suicide, yellow, 2.783; black, .428. Diseases, yellow, 8.349; black, 28.468.
§ LORD R. CECILCan the hon. and gallant gentleman explain why it is that the blacks die three times as often as the Chinese?
§ COLONEL SEELYNo, Sir, I cannot explain why the blacks die three or even four times as often. Nor can I explain why the Chinese commit suicide six times as often.
§ MR. WEDGWOOD (Newcastle-under-Lyme)asked whether the excessive figure of black mortality was not due to the recruiting of natives from Portuguese territory, especially that part north of the Zambesi, and whether any steps would be taken to limit the recruiting of these natives.
§ COLONEL SEELYwas understood to say that the recruiting was limited, and that, in order to avoid the excessive mortality which prevailed, no recruiting was taking place from areas so far north.