CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the number of Chinese coolies at present employed in the mines in the Transvaal.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel SEELY,) Liverpool, Abercromby,I understand that there were 14,655 on the 30th September.
CAPTAIN CRAIGasked if these 14,655 coolies were still confined in compounds under "conditions of slavery."
§ COLONEL SEELYYes, they are still confined to compounds, but this bad system is rapidly being brought to an end. There appears to be no one in the British Empire who supports it, except a few hon. Members on the other side.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)Are not the natives in the Transvaal confined in compounds?
§ COLONEL SEELYYes, Sir, but under wholly different conditions.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWho invented this system of compounds?
§ MR. ASHLEYWill the Under-Secretary state what are these different conditions?
§ COLONEL SEELYIt is obviously impossible, within the limits of Question and Answer, to make clear the difference which has been explained again and again in the House.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)Is not the difference rather in the terms of contract than in the compound system?
§ *MR. SPEAKERIt is not desirable to have a discussion on this matter.