§ Mr. OUTHWAITEI desire to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the retention on the Rand of a large force of Imperial troops at the disposal of the Government of South Africa in connection with a strike not wholly settled, the killing and wounding by these troops of a large number of persons, and the failure of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to provide this House with adequate information regarding occurrences unprecedented in the history of the Empire.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid the hon. Member's Motion does not come within the rule. With regard to the first point, namely, the retention on the Rand of a large force of Imperial troops, that must be at the desire of the South African Government, and therefore his criticism is not of this Government or of any matter with which they can interfere, but of the South African Government. In regard to the second, the killing and wounding of a large number of persons by those troops, that is not an "urgent" matter because it has taken place. It is over and nothing that we can do can stop it. With regard to the third, the failure of the Secretary of State to provide the House with adequate information, he cannot manufacture information—at least I hope not. All that he can do is to give the information which he has received. That he has done. There is no suggestion that he has not.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEWith regard to the matter of urgency I may point out that if they have already killed a large number of strikers it is probable they may kill others, so that it is a matter of very great urgency. As to the question by whose authority the troops are there, it is on the authority of the Governor of the Transvaal, who is responsible to this House for any action that 243 he may take. As regards the matter of information being supplied, we had a cable read yesterday from Lord Gladstone in which he said that all was quiet, and in a cable dispatched at 2.38 this morning we are told that Maxim guns are ready.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now giving some information which he has got and which the Secretary of State has not received. He cannot criticise the secretary of State for not having received it.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEThe Governor could have sent the information.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAgain I would repeat what I said yesterday. The hon. Member's cause of complaint, if any, is against the Governor, and the proper course to take is to put down a Vote of Censure upon him under the ordinary forms and rules of the House. If necessary that can be discussed.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODThese murders took place on Friday last.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have given my ruling.
§ Mr. CLYNESMay I ask whether you will not regard as urgent a discussion on the act of shooting these people?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo, I do not think so. The object of the rule is to enable the House to come to some decision upon some question which is then open and by reason.of the decision of the House the policy of the Government or the person referred to may be altered. These unfortunate occurrences have taken place, and, of course, will be discussed in due course, but not as a matter of urgent public importance.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIf the hon. Member puts down a Vote of Censure, will he not have to get permission of the Government to discuss the question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe whole time of the House is now in the hands of the Government. Of course, it rests with the Government as to what use they will make of the time of the House. I have no control over that.