§ 40. Major MILNERasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of natives of Swaziland, male and female, respectively, who left the territory during each of the last three years for labour purposes; the class of labour upon which they were employed; the normal period of absence from the territory; the conditions, statutory or otherwise, under which the labour is recruited and protected; and the mortality rate among this migrant labour?
43. Mr. PRICEasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of natives of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, male and female, respectively, who left the territory during each of the last three years for labour purposes; the class of labour upon which they were employed; the normal period of absence from the territory; the conditions, statu- 1803 tory or otherwise, under which the labour is recruited and protected; and the mortality rate among this migrant labour?
§ 47. Mr. GROVESasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs the number of natives of Basutoland, male and female, respectively, who left the territory during each of the last three years for labour purposes; the class of labour upon which they were employed; the normal period of absence from the territory; the conditions, statutory or otherwise, under which the labour is recruited and protected; and the mortality rate among this migrant labour?
Mr. THOMASAs the reply to these questions is a somewhat long one, I will circulate it in the Official Report.
§ Following is the reply:
§ In 1929, 74,762 natives in Basutoland were issued passes to leave the Territory for labour purposes. The corresponding figure for the same year in the case of Swaziland was 12,415; that for the Bechuanaland Protectorate is not at present available. The figures do not show distribution as to age and sex, but it is certain that the great majority who leave the Territories for service outside are young men. The class of labour upon which they are employed consists of service on the Witwatersrand gold mines, the Natal coal mines, the diamond mines of South West Africa and work on farms in the Union of South Africa. The periods of employment vary, but are generally seasonal in character. Legislation exists in each of the three territories governing, in the interests of the natives, tie conditions under which they may be recruited in the territories for service outside. No information is available as to the mortality rate among natives from the three Territories so employed, but there is no reason to suppose that it is heavy or in any way exceptional.