§ LORD AMPTHILLI beg to ask the noble Lord who represents the Colonial Office the final Question standing in my name—viz.: Whether it is a fact that under the Vrededorp Stands Ordinance the Indian residents of that suburb of Johannesburg have been given notice to shut up their shops and leave their homes by the 18th February, and, if so, what is the object and the justification for these orders of the Transvaal Government.
§ LORD EMMOTTMy Lords, we have absolutely no official information in regard to this matter. Curiously enough, the only information that has come before me is in the form of a newspaper rumour which 76 bears in the opposite direction. It is to the effect that the Indians are leaving Vrededorp because of the fear of the outbreak of an epidemic, and that suggestions are being made by the white people there that a system of quarantine should be set up to keep them in their locations and prevent them going away. Therefore the information I have is in the opposite direction, though, of course, that does not prove whether or not there is anything in the Question which the noble Lord has put. My reply must be that I am sorry I have no official information.
§ House adjourned at ten minutes before Six o'clock till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.