§ Mr. FELLasked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if he can supply any particulars of the alleged increase of crime among the natives in the Transvaal in the past few months; and if he can give any figures of the numbers now confined in prisons there later than 30th June, 1909?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State has no later information than that with which I have supplied the hon. Gentleman. I may add I should be glad of the return of the information that I supplied to him.
§ Mr. FELLMay I say that the information reached me only yesterday, but, arising out of that reply, I would ask whether the Government has not an interest now in the condition of the natives in the Transvaal, and is not this a matter on which they should be informed, having an interest?
§ Colonel SEELYOf course, we have an interest in the well-being of everyone in the British Empire, but we have full confidence in the Transvaal Government, as we have in the Governments of all the other self-governing Colonies, to take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard the interests of the native races.
§ Mr. MARKHAMHave not His Majesty's Government a peculiar interest in the well-being of the natives in the Transvaal?
§ Colonel SEELYThe hon. Gentleman himself has a still more peculiar interest.
§ Colonel SEELYIf I can obtain the information I will certainly get it, but I would ask the hon. Gentleman to return the information which I gave to him. It is so embarrassing when I do not get back documents again when I part with them.