Mr. Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether the references in the Pim Report as to the conditions approximating to slavery attaching to the Masarwa, and of other published documents, have hitherto referred only to the Bamangwato territory; whether his attention has been called to the probability that similar conditions prevail in other parts of Bechuanaland and adjacent territory; and whether it is proposed to undertake an inquiry as to the extent and nature of the systems obtaining in these other territories?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI understand that the reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The hon. Member will appreciate that the conditions referred to have now ceased to exist. As regards the other parts of the question, I am not aware that similar conditions prevail in other parts of Bechuanaland and adjacent territory, but a local committee is now studying the position of the Masarwa, or Bushmen, in South Africa generally.