§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received complaints that a movement hostile to His Majesty's Indian subjects is at present being promoted in various parts of South Africa, with the object of depriving them of the civil rights that they still enjoy and of contracting their freedom to carry on their trade on equal terms with others of His Majesty's subjects in the Dominion; and, if so, what steps His Majesty's Government have taken to prevent injury to Indian interests?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I have been in communication with Ministers who do not consider that the existing laws have been administered against Indian traders in a harsh manner. They inform me that the extent to which Asiatics are displacing white traders is arousing considerable feeling. I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall continue to give close attention to the matter.
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has 508 received a copy of the judgment delivered by the Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court of the Union of South Africa on the gold law, in the case of Tamblin v. Rex; and whether he can say in what way, if at all, it has affected the rights of His Majesty's Indian subjects in the Transvaal?
§ Mr. HARCOURTYes, Sir. Ministers inform me that the effect of this decision is that there is no restriction under the Law 35 of 1908 on the letting to Indians of any stands which have been laid out under the Mining Laws prior to 1908.