§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether his attention has been called to the action of the Germiston Town Council in deciding to remove a village established two miles outside the town, and where British-Indians have been living, to a distance of some four miles away from Germiston; and, whether, having regard to the fact that these British subjects have built shops and dwelling-houses in the existing village at considerable cost in money, and to the fact that the existing village meets all the requirements of a location, representations will be made to the South African Government as to the loss in the disturbance of established businesses and the annoyance caused to British subjects by the action of the local authorities; (2) whether his attention has been called to the report of Dr. Macnab, a local physician of Germiston, upon the proposed new location for British-Indians, showing that one-third of the site selected is directly on recent dumping-ground for night-soil, that the dumping-ground for slop-water is within 600 yards of the proposed location, and that six mules, dead of anthrax, were buried in the location during the months of November and December, 1911; and, if so, whether, having regard to the danger to public health arising from soil impregnated with such filth, will representations be made to the South African Government to prevent this location being used for the purpose of housing British subjects; and (3) whether he is aware that By-law No. 14, of Public Health, Germiston Municipality, condemns any building erected, or in course of erection, on any ground which has been filled with fæcal, animal, or vegetable matter, or upon which any such matter has been deposited, unless such matter has been properly removed by excavation or otherwise, or shall have been rendered or have become innocuous; and whether, having regard to the fact that Dr. Macnab, a local physician of Germiston, has reported that a 1267 third of the soil of the proposed new location, about four miles from Germiston, for British-Indians and natives, has not been rendered or become innocuous, night-soil being dumped on the proposed location as recently as 22nd March, 1912, representations will immediately be made to the South African Government to annul the proposal of the Germiston municipality in favour of the existing location?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)My attention has been drawn to newspaper reports of the insanitary condition of the new location at Germiston. These reports include a statement by Dr. Macnab, and are to the effect indicated in the questions. But, as I stated in reply to another question on the subject on 7th May, when I referred to what I understand to be the history of the removal of the location, I have no official information on the subject. The condition of affairs indicated in the questions, if accurately described, evidently demands immediate attention, but, if the sufferers fail, to obtain adequate redress from the local authorities, their proper course is to appeal to the Union Government, who will, I have no doubt, take such action as they properly can in the circumstances.
§ Mr. O'GRADYWill the right hon. Gentleman make representations himself upon the points raised in my questions to the South African Government in order that something may be done immediately?
§ Mr. HARCOURTI am unwilling to appear as interfering in the local administration of a self-governing Dominion, but I will watch the proceedings in this matter.