HC Deb 26 October 1908 vol 194 cc1605-6
*MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether official recruiting in Nyassaland for the mines of Southern Rhodesia is permitted without any limitation or stipulation as to non-employment underground of labourers recruited.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Colonel SEELY,) Liverpool, Abercromby

The natives in the experimental gang sanctioned by the Seretary of State on 2nd March last were to be sent only to certain specially inspected mines, and might elect whether to engage as surface labourers or for work underground.

MR. REES

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government is now practically regulating the export of labour from Nyassaland to Southern Rhodesia; and, if so, whether labour cannot be regulated in Nyassaland so as to provide a sufficient and continuous supply for the service of local industries.

COLONEL SEELY

The emigration is under Government supervision. I understand that there is at present a great surplus of labour in Nyassaland, so that no question is likely to arise as to a sufficient supply for local industries.

MR. REES

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that about 18,000 natives of Nyassaland emigrated last year to Southern Rhodesia as free and unrestricted emigrants, without any provision being made for their comfort and accommodation on the march; and whether, since free emigration cannot be prohibited, the Government will consider the advisability of organising the export of surplus labour, under satisfactory conditions, for the common benefit of Nyassaland and other regions in Central and Southern Africa.

COLONEL SEELY

18,000 natives are estimated to have left Nyassaland last year, the bulk of whom went to Southern Rhodesia. I am now informed that the Government of Southern Rhodesia decided to take in hand the regulation of alien labour from the 1st instant. As I have stated in reply to another Question by my hon. friend, further consideration is being given to the question of the emigration of native labour from Nyassaland to other regions.

MR. REES

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the authority for the statement made by Lord Elgin to Lord Selborne, as disclosed by the Blue Book published in April last, to the effect that no considerable number of natives of Nyassaland are likely to find their way to the Rand as independent immigrants; whether such independent immigrants are or are not now at liberty to travel through Southern Rhodesia to the Transvaal; and whether, if the local administration does not control the surplus labour supply, there is any means of preventing its crossing the border into Portuguese territory, and there entering into engagements with the agents of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association.

COLONEL SEELY

Lord Elgin's statement was based on the opinion of Sir Alfred Sharpe, with whom the question was carefully discussed when he was in this country last winter; the subject matter of the latter part of my hon. friend's Question is receiving the attention of the Secretary of State, with the object of ascertaining how far there has been any change in the circumstances.