TRANSVAAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7971, 24 February 1906, Page 5

TRANSVAAL.

CHINESE LABOUR.

THE CHAMBER OF MINES PRESIDENT.

COURTS THE FULLEST INQUIRY.

Received February 23 9.19 p.m. CAPETOWN, February 23. Mr Chaplain, President of the Rand Chamber of Mines, eouKs the fullest inquiry into the treatment of the Chinese coolies. He condemns Sir Hen y Campbell - Banuerman for assuming that the mining papulation of the tJand wore less humane than other Britishers, an;? states that owiug to the increase of unskilled labour, skilled white labour rose in. 1905 from 15,962 to 19,527,

A SATISFACTORY STATEMENT.

CONDEMNATION OF THE SYSTEM.

Reoeived February 23, 10 34 p.m. LONDON, February 23.

In the House of Commons, Mr H. W. Forßter moved an amendment to the expressing regret that the Government, after bringing the country's reputation into contempt by alleging that Chinese slavery existed in the Trans vaal, took no effectual methods of ending it.

Mr Winston Churchill admitted that it was nut slavery in the ex* treme acceptance of the term, but it was an undesirable form of contract constituting a melancholy derogation of labour not hitherto tolerated in the British Empire The sudden deportation of Chinese would produce an economic collapse. He believed the Transvaal would decide against a permanent retention of the system and was certain to reject the impudent demands of extension. The Government were modifying the conditions of treatment. If the. Transvaal continued the system under repugnant conditions, the Imperial sanction would be withheld from the arrangements with the Chinese. The Government intended to oanoel the ' provisions permitting coolies to re-engage at the end of their contract. Three thousand licenses, which had been granted but were not signed on February 18tb, will be allowed to stand, likewise 13.000 licenses formally signed.

THE WAR CONTRIBUTION

BRITISH GOVERNMENT EXPECT

PAYMENT.

Received February 23, 7.39 a.m. s 'LONDON, February 22. In the House of Commons Mr Winston Ohurcbill, Under Secretary for the Colonies, stated that the Government was by no means prepared to regard the Transvaal*s undertaking to make a war contribution, of thirty millions as an obligation to be lightly set aside.