§ MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, seeing that the Transvaal Opium Ordinance was 1349 passed solely in order to provide for the needs of the Chinese coolies, and that these coolies are being repatriated, and in view of the consequences likely to follow if the natives of the Transvaal become addicted to the opium habit, His Majesty's Government intend to advise the Transvaal Government to rescind the Ordinance when all the Chinese coolies have been repatriated.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Ordinance was passed because the previously existing legislation was not sufficiently stringent, and its repeal therefore would seem to be undesirable. The question, however, is one for the Transvaal Government, in whose hands I feel assured that the interests of the natives in this matter are safe.