§ Mr. MARKHAMasked the Undersecretary of the Colonies if he will say whether His Majesty's Government have sanctioned the recruiting of natives for the Transvaal mines from Central Africa; and will he say what has been the mortality per 1,000 during the past four years among natives from Central Africa working in the mines compared to Chinese labourers?
§ Colonel SEELYThe following are the available figures of mortality from disease for Chinese and British Central Africa labourers on the Rand per 1,000 per annum:—Chinese, 1905, approximately, 12; 1906, approximately, 11; 1907, approximately, 9; 1908, approximately, 7.—British Central African: 1904–5, 118.3; 1905–6, 116.3; 1906–7, 52.8. In spite of the striking reduction in the death rate of these British Central African natives from 166 to 52 per 1,000 in the last year mentioned, the Secretary of State did not feel justified in continuing to permit recruiting under official sanction. But, as I have explained to my hon. Friend the Member for Montgomery Burghs, the only practical result of the prohibition has been that the natives, attracted by the high wages, have still continued to go to the Rand without leave or supervision, and at great risk to themselves. As a consequence, His Majesty's Government have been forced to the conclusion that the best course in the interests of the natives is to bring this emigration under careful official supervision, and to limit the number to the figure which commends itself to the Governor, who is carefully watching the matter, and is much concerned at the high mortality which has prevailed.
§ Mr. MARKHAMWill natives be allowed to be imported from Central Africa, not Nyassaland?
§ Colonel SEELYNot so far as we know; but it is very difficult to stop the immigration of natives who are in search of high wages.