§ Mr. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to a speech recently delivered by the President of the Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, in which that gentleman said that before December next they would have 15,000 Central Africans on the Rand; and whether he can make any statement on the subject, or indicate whether the policy of the Government in respect of emigration from Central to South Africa has undergone any radical change?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY for the COLONIES (Colonel Seely)The Secretary of State's attention has been drawn to the speech mentioned by my hon. Friend. It is not clear what exactly is covered by the reference to "Central African" natives. The position is as follows in regard to the emigration to South Africa of labourers from the Nyassaland Protectorate, for the administration of which His Majesty's Government is directly responsible. As regards labour for Southern Rhodesia, emigration of labourers is proceeding on the lines laid down on pages 95–101 and 118 of Cd.3,993. As regards the Transvaal, it appeared after the publication of that paper that as a matter of fact a large number of labourers were finding their way from Nyassaland to the Rand at great risk to themselves. His Majesty's Government accordingly gave further consideration to the question whether it would not be proper, in the interests of the labourers themselves, for the Government to supervise an emigration which they found themselves unable to stop. Correspondence as to details is still in progress, but His 2128 Majesty's Government have, assented to an arrangement whereby, as in the case of Southern Rhodesia, passes will be issued by the Government to natives desirous of going to the Rand. Possession of these passes will ensure their transport under carefully safeguarded conditions and their employment on arrival. The number of passes has been limited to 3,000, and it is intended that, so far as it is possible to ensure it, passes shall be issued only to those natives who have already worked on the Rand. In order to give time for acclimatisation, it is intended that they shall arrive only between the months of October and December, they will work on the surface for one month, and will be subjected careful medical examination before departure from Nyassaland and while on the Rand. The results of the arrangement from the point of view of the health of the natives will continue to be most carefully watched by his Majesty's Government.
§ Colonel SEELYYes, to 3,000.
§ Colonel SEELY3,000 now.