4815 f,- THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ■^■MP-. •>•'. TRANSVAAL. FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO LABOUR IN THE TRANSVAAL MINES. (in continuation of [Cd. 2788] January, 1906.) ^rcscntcb to both Rouses of |3iii*liamcnt bn (Hommitnb of Ijis ,2 Date. 1905. December 4 (Rec. Dec. 2.S.) December 2)-^ December 28 Telegram 5. Telegram o Telegram 4. December 29 (Rec. Dec. 29.) December 29 December 11 (Rec. Dec. 30.) 1906. January 2 .January .') January 5 December 18, 1905. (Rec. Jan. 6, 1906.) Subject. Transmits memorandum from the Superintendent, Foreign Labour Department, on the subject of the relations between Government In- spectors and Mine Managers. Enquires when the reply from the Witwatersrand Deep Mine to the en- quiries as to Mr. Boland's allegations may be expected, and whether any information has been obtained justify- ing prosecution for abuse of corporal punishment. Expresses satisfaction that no difficulty is anticipated as to the application of new penalties to coolies already under contract ; submits remarks as to proposed alteration in the clauses of future contract ; asks for an account of the working of the Ordi- nance. Reports high death rate among labourers from tropical areas, and states that recruiting ceases on January 31st, 1906, and will not be resumed unless returns show a marked improvement. Acknowledges receipt of Nos. 6 and 7 Forwards return of mortality on the South African mines from July 1 to September 30. States, with refereni;e to No. 21, that what it is desired to know is whether sufficient legal evidence is available in any specific case, and whether any prosecution has been or is about to be instititted. Requests, with reference to No. 17, an explanation of the decrease of 234 in the number of white labourers ; enquires whether more or less white supervision is required over Chinese than over coloured labourers. Enquires whether, in order to prevent allegation that any Chinese are detained in the Transvaal against their will, a Regulation could be framed requiring importers to re- patriate such coolies on application, the Government making up the amount which the coolie could not provide. Forwards correspondence with regard to certain charges, made by Mr. E. Bianchini, of improper treatment of coolies employed by the Witwaters- rand Gold Mining Company, Limited. Paffo. 40 43 43 44 44 44 46 46 46 47 a2 Vl •Serial No. From or to whom. — Date. Subject. Page. 1906. 30 To Governor The Earl of Selborne. Telegram, 3. January 6 Enquires in how many mines is the rule in force that there should be at least one white official thoroughly con- versant with the Chinese language in every compound. mhl J Reports despatch of affidavits contra- dicting the statements contained in Mr. Boland's letter to the " Morning Leader" on September 6, 1905, so faras the Witwatersrand Deep, Limited, is concerned. 57 31 Governor The Earl of Selborne. Telegram, 1. January (5 (Ree. Jan. 6.) 57 32 Ditto Telegram, 1. January 10 (Rec. Jan. 10.) Submits report] by Mr. Purdon, Inspec- tor of Foreign Labour Department, in reply to Mr. Massingham's state- ments in the " Daily News," as to the illegal flogging of a Chinese coolie. 58 33 Ditto Telegram, 2. Januarv 10 (Rec. Jan. 10.) Acknowledges receipt of No. 26, and states that one prosecution has been or is being instituted in connection ■with the charges brought by Mr. Boland, but that everything is being done to prevent ill-treatment and bring those guilty of ill-treatment before the Court. 58 34 Governor Sir W. F. Hely-Hutchinson (Cape). Telegram 1. January 12 (Rec. Jan. 12.) Transmits resolution passed at meeting of the Africander Bond, contradicting a statement in a London newspaper that the British Government would be ushered out of South Africa if the Liberal policy is persisted in, and upholding the policy of His Majesty's Government. 59 35 To Governor the Earl of Selborne. Telegram 1. January 13 Enquires whether Mr. Jamieson's state- ment in No. 20 that eleven inspectors will be sufficient for the increased number of labourers applied for, may still be accepted. 59 36 Ditto Telegram 2. January 16 Requests, for publication, information on certain points in connection with the investigation of complaints made by Chinese, functions and powers of compound police, flogging of labourers, amount of wages earned by Chinese and natives, withholding of rations, &c. 60 37 Governor the Earl of Selborne. Telegram 2. January 18 (Rec. Jan. 18.) States, in reply to No. 36, that full report will be sent by mail, and con- curs in the proposed appointment of a Commission of Enquiry. 60 38 To Governor the Earl of Selborne. Telegram 1. January 19 Requests reply to No. 28 61 39 Governor the Earl of Selborne. December 30, 1905. (Ree. Jan. 20, 1906.) Submits remarks, in view of the decision to arrest the further importation of Chinese, on the general question of the unskilled labour supply required for various purposes. 61 40 Ditto December 30, 1905. (Rec. Jan. 20, 1906.) Transmits, with remarks, memoranilum giving an estimate of some of the financial and industrial consequences which would follow from the with- drawal of Chinese labour. 64 Vll Serial No. From or to whom. Date. Subject. Page. 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Governor the of Selborne. Earl To Governor The Earl of Selborne. To Governor Sir W. F. Hely-Hutchin- son (Cape). Governor the of Selborne. Ditto ... Earl Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Ditto Telegram, 3. Telegram, 1. Telegram, 1. Telegram, 9 Telegram, 3. Telegram, 1906. December 30, 1905. (Rec. Jan. 20, 1906.) .January 20 January 20 January 20 (Rec. Jan. 21.) January 23 (Rec. Jan. 23.) January 24 (Rec. Jan. 24.) January 24 (Rec. Jan. 24.) January 24 (Rec. Jan. 24.) January 25 (Rec. Jan. 25.) January 4 (Rec. Jan. 27.) January 6 (Rec. Jan. 27.) January 6 (Rec. Jan. 27.) Confirms telegram that the Attorney- General considers that the Lieutenant- Governor has no power to revoke outstanding licences ; he (the Gover- nor) is informed if the labourers already licensed are brought in, the gold mining industry will have suffi- cient labour to tide over the period before the first meeting of a repre- sentative legislature. Requests a report accounting for the increased number of natives on the Witwatersrand Mines between April and July, instead of the usual decrease for that period, and dealing with the effect on the labour supply of the rule to recruit in certain parts of South Africa onlj' for underground work and for a longer period. Acknowledges receipt of No. 34 Replies to the enquiry in No. 28 as to the repatriation of coolies. Submits, with reference to No. 44, addi- tional figures showing that the majority of coolies who have been repatriated have tried to make their way back to the Transvaal. Reports increase in Dec. 1905 of 83 white workmen in the mines of the Wit- watersrand district. Furnishes returns of total number of persons employed in the gold mines of the whole Transvaal on December 31, 1905. Submits remarks in favour of appoint- ing probationei-s for inspectorships of Chinese labourers. Submits text of a new Regulation about to be published relative to the en- gagement in every compound of a white official thoroughly conversant with the Chinese language. Forwards statement for November, 1905, of convictions and sentences on Chinese labourers. Explains decrease in the number of white workmen in the mines of the Witwatersrand district during Nov- ember. Transmits copies of affidavits contra- dicting the allegations by Mr. Bolaud so far as the Witwatersrand Deep, Limited, is concerned. 78 79 79 80 80 81 81 81 81 82 87 87 vm Serial No. From or to whom. Date. Subject. rage 1906. 53 Governor the Earl of Selborne. January 8 (Rec. .Ian. 27.) Replies to No. 22 as to alterations in future contracts, and quotes report by the Superintendent on the satis- factory working of the Amending Ordinance, 1905. 89 54 Ditto ' .January JS (Rec. Jan. 27.) Forwards statements for November, 1905, of Territorial Analysis of Natives holding passports and work- ing in the Labour I)i8tricts of the Transvaal. 90 55 To Governor The Earl of Selborne. Telegram, 1. January 30 Enquires on how many mines is the rule in force that there should be at least one white official thoroughly conversant with Chinese. 95 56 Governor the Earl of Selborne. Telegram, 5. February 1 (Rec. Feb. 1.) Replies to No. 35 as to the suflBciency of Inspectors. 96 57 Ditto January 15 (Rec. Feb. 3.) Transmits copy of a letter from the Nourse Deep, Limited, replying to the Governor's censure of their action in regard to the outrage committed by Mr. Pless. 96 58 Ditto Telegram, 3. February 3 (Rec. Feb. 3.) Reports on meeting held on February 1 to protest against the reflections against the Witwatersrand community as to the treatment of Chinese. 97 59 Ditto Telegram, 2. February 5 (Rec. Feb. 5.) States, in reply to Nd. 55, that out of 37 mines employing Chinese there are 27 in which Chinese-speaking white men are employed. 98 60 To (iovernor the Earl of Selborne. Telegram, 1. February ."> Points out, with reference to No. 53, that the Attorney General has mis- read the main clause of the contract ; directs that the contracts should be altered as desired in No. 22. 98 61 Ditto Telegram, 1. February 8 States, in reply tn No. 48, that His Majesty's Government prefer not to take any steps which might be con- strued as giving countenance to the continuance nf importation. 98 m To Mr. C. H. Nor- man. February 10 Transmits copies of Nos. 14 and 52, and states that the information contained therein does not appear to the Law Officers of the Transvaal to furnish ground for a prosecution. 99 615 Governor the Earl of Selborne. January 22 (Rec. Fei.. 10.) Transmits memorandum by the Cham- ber of Mines on the effect which \\()nld follow from arresting the importation of Chinese. 99 IX Serial No. From or to whom. Date. Subject. 64 Governor the of Selborne. Earl 65 Ditto 66 Ditto 67 Ditto 6S To Governor The Earl of Selborne. 6;i 70 Governor the of Selborne. Ditto Earl 71 Governor Sir W. F. Helv-Hutchinson. 1906. January 22 (Rec. Feb. 10.) Telegram, 9 January 22 fRec. Feb. 10.) .lanuary 22 (Rec. Feb. 10.) January 22 (Rec. Feb. 10.) February 10 January 29 (Rec. Feb. 17.) January 29 (Rec. Feb. 17.) January 29 (Rec. Feb. 17.) Page. Transmits copy of a letter from the 103 Chamber of Mines stating the views of the Chamber on the correspon- dence recently published with retrard to the decision of His Majesty's Gov- ernment as to the further importation of Chinese. Transmits copy of a letter fi'om the 104 Johannesburg Chamber of Trade sub- mitting a resolution passed by the members of the Chamber expressing grave alarm at any possible restric- tions on the importation and employ- ment of Chinese. Transmits copy of a letter from the 105 Krugersdorp and District Chamber of Commerce, forwarding a resolution passed at a general meeting that the importation of unskilled labour is absolutely essential to the welfare of the mining industry and the country at large, and protesting against mis- representation by party politicians in Great Britain with reference to Chinese labour. Considers, for the reasons stated, that lu.j no practical effect can be given to the suggestion of the Secretary of State that provision should be made for the repatriation of coolies who desire it. Calls attention to the fact that the 108 mining industry would appear to have largely abated the estimate for- med in November, 1903, of the amount of native labour required ; refers to statement presented to Mr. Chamber- lain in January, 1903. and observes that His Majesty's Government cannot take it for granted that one-third of the mines now working would lie idle as a consequence of the repatria- tion of the Chinese labourers at the expiry of their contracts. Forwards a comparative statement for 109 1904 and 1905 of mortality amongst natives employed on mines in labour districts. Replies at length to the (luestions put in 111 No. 36 as to the manner in which the officers of the Foreign Labour Depart- ment are carrying out their duties of preventing and dealing with offences of labourers, and also of protecting them against improper treatment. Encloses report of proceedings at a 119 meeting of the Cape Town branch of the Africander Bond at which a resolution was passed pi-otesting against the assertion that the Afri- cander people were desirous of " cut- ting the painter" unless all restric- tions on the importation of Chi"ese labour were removed. APPENDIX. PAGE I. — Transvaal Government Notice No. 1 ,100 of 1905 amending Regulations published under Government Notice No. 826 of 1903 12J II. — Report on Transvaal Native Affairs Department for year ended June 30th, 1905 ... 123 III. — Report of Government Mining Engineer for the year ended June 30th, 1905 14& IV. — Extracts from Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Mines' Department for year ended 30th June, 1905 170 v.— Government Notice, No. 77 of 1906, as to the posting of Government Notices and the provision of a locked box for the reception of petitions by labourers ... ... ... 177 VI. — Government Notice, No. 78 of 1906, as to the provision of an oflRcial conversant with the language of labourers employed ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 177 VII. — Statement showing Stamps ei-ected. Capital Expenditure and Average Cost per Stamp, 17& Estimated Capital Expenditure for Projected Development at 5 and 10 years TRANSVAAL. FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO LABOUR IN THE TEANSVAAL IINES. No. 1. Mr. C. H. NORMAN to Mr. LYTTELTON. (Received September 8, 1905.) [Answered by No. 2.] 4 N., Hyde Park Mansions, London, N.W., Dear Sir, September 6, 1905. I REGRET that I have not yet received any report from you relating to the matter which I called your attention to, for the second time, on 29th July last.* The delay in obtaining information seems to me very remarkable. May I direct your most earnest attention to the three enclosed cuttings, " Daily Chronicle," July 31st, t "Daily Chronicle," September 2nd,t "Morning Leader," September 6th (to-day). I have not thought it necessary to forward your letter to Mr. Richard Bell, M.P., in which you reply to his letter asking you to hold an inquiry into Mr. Shan's statements. The cutting from the " Daily Chronicle " of September 2nd is my criticism on your reply to Mr. Bell, and I venture to repeat his request to you to hold an inquiry into Mr. Shan's statements. Though a blackmailer, I agree, ought to have very little attention paid to him, I do strongly represent to you, Sir, with the greatest respect, that it is by no means clear that this Chinaman is a scoundrel and a liar. At any rate, having regard to the explicit nature of his state- ments, it seems to me it would be more reassuring if you directed an investigation into his statements. I also draw your most serious attention to Mr. Boland's allegations of unspeak- able atrocities taking place under direct ofl&cial (I mean under the Chamber of Mines) inspiration. These statements are perfectly distinct, and, if true, represent an intolerable state of things. If these bestial outrages do actually take place, it reduces our English civilisation to a level with Turkey and the Congo, if the worst of the charges made against the Administration of those States is correct. I should be very obliged if you would return the enclosures when you acknow- ledge this letter, which I hope you will do at your earliesit convenience, as the issues raised are very grave. Apologising for troubling you, and with the utmost confidence that you will deal with the matter. I remain^, &c., C. H. NORMAN. • Not printed. t Not reprinted. 23718 Enclosure 3 in No. 1. " Morning Leader," Wednesday, September 6, 1905. The Price of Gold. Flogging of the Rand Yellow Serf. Horrible Cruelties. Barbarities Practised in the Mine Compounds. Terror on the Eand. Measures for Preserving Life and Property. By Fr.ank C. Boland. Johannesburg, August 14. London is less than 20 days from Johannesburg. The Chinese have been here more than a year, and yet there are millions of people in England to-day who pretend to deny that these coolie labourers on the Rand have been consistently flogged and otherwise punished. Even here on the Rand three of the four daily papers — all of them the mouth- pieces of the big mining houses — refused until very recently to acknowledge that flogging took place. Then they affected surprise, and stated that the instances were isolated. Cables from England, reporting discussions in the House of Commons on the flogging question, were headed " More Canards," " Latest Chinese Lies," and so forth. " Flogging Must Cease." But when Mr. Lyttelton, after strenuously denying for months that floggings were being administered, made the pronouncement that " flogging must cease," the local press were compelled to abandon evasive tactics and admit the truth. I now propose to tell you, from the evidence of my own eyes, and from the descriptions given by men who ordered floggings in innumerable cases, how various kinds of punishment were being, and are being, inflicted. Take the Witwatersrand Mine, for instance. The average number of coolies flogged daily for one month early this year was 42, Sundays included. This infor- mation was given me by the official whose duty it was to make a record of the registered numbers of those men who were punished. Laying on the Punishment. Here is the method of procedure. A coolie is reported either by a white shift boss or by a headman for an offence. He is called into the compound manager's office, charged, and given a fair trial (except where the compound manager does not know the Chinese language, and has to trust to his yellow interpreter). Then the sentence is passed by the compound manager — 10, 15, or 20 strokes, according to the ■crime. The coolie, with a Chinese policeman on either side of him, is taken away about ten paces. Then he stops, and at the word of a policeman drops his pantaloons, and falls flat on his face and at full length on the floor. One policeman holds his feet together; another, with both hands pressed firmly on the back of his head, looks after that end of his body. Then the flagellator, with a strip of thick leather on the end of a three-foot wooden handle, lays on the punishment, severely or lightly, as instructed. Should the prisoner struggle after the first few strokes, another policeman plants a foot in the middle of his back until the full dose has been administered. Cutting the Flesh. In another form of flogging, practised, if not at the Witwatersrand Mine, at the Witwatersrand Deep, a short bamboo was used. The coolie would strip to the waist and go down on his knees with his head on the floor. His castigator would then squat beside him, and strike him across the shoulders with lightning rapidity. The blows, though apparently light, always fell on the one spot, and raised a large red weal before cutting the flesh. During the first quarter of this year no fewer than 56 coolies were whipped after eight p.m. one evening at the Witwatersrand Mine, the dose varying from five to fifteen strokes. Torture Under the Sjambok. At the Nourse Deep severe punishment was meted out. Every boy who did not drill his 36 inches per shift was liable to be, and actually was, whipped unless he were ill, and could show that it was a physical impossibility for him to do a day's work. A sjambok was used; it was laid on relentlessly by Chinese policemen, the part of the body selected being the muscles and tendons at the back of the thighs. Even the sight of blood did not matter. The policeman would go right on to the last stroke. Having been thus punished, the coolie could walk away; but after sitting down for a time the bruised tendons would refuse to work. Many of the coolies were sent to hospital to recover. Resigned in the Cause of Hum.a.nity. At a later date at this mine strips of rubber were substituted for a sjambok. This rubber, while causing very sharp pain, does not cut. After a time the mine officials found that the coolies were not maintaining the monthly increase, and the management urged the Chinese controller to " do some- thing." He refused to thrash the coolies unless they had committed some crime; and being informed by the manager that his policy would not suit, he gave two months' notice of his resignation. Meanwhile the management issued instructions, because of advices from England, that flogging should be stopped so far as possible, but asking that other forms of punishment should be substituted. Far Eastern Modes of Torture. Thereupon certain forms of torture well known in the Far East were adopted. One of these was to strip erring coolies absolutely naked, and leave them tied by their pigtails to a stake in the compound for two or three hours. The other coolies would gather round and laugh and jeer at their countrymen who stood shivering in the intense cold. A more refined form of torture was to bind a coolie's left wrist with a piece of fine rope, which was then put through a ring in a beam about nine feet from the ground. This rope was then made taut so that the unhappy coolie, with his left arm pulled up perpendicularly, had to stand on his tip-toes. In this position he was kept, as a rule, for two hours, during which time, if he tried to get down on his heels, he must dangle in the air hanging from the left wrist. Every mine has its lock-up for malingerers, deserters, and others. At the Witwatersrand the coolies are handcuffed over a horizontal beam. Prospect of Fines and Starvation. The floor is of concrete, and they may sit down, but the beam is so far from the floor that it is impossible for any but exceptionally tall men to sit while handcuffed. They must therefore squat, and for a change raise themselves in a semi-standing posture. When released, these prisoners stagger about until they regain the use of their legs ; then they take their skoff and go below to work. With the abolition of flogging, compound managers are now inventing other forms of punishment. In future, also, there will be an extensive system of fines, and food will be withheld. 23718 A 2 Meanwhile, with all these methods of punishment, the coolies are still turbulent. Last Monday practically every head boy on the Nourse Deep — 75 in all — was sent to gaol for seven days. This step is certain to foment trouble in the near future. Outrages by Yellow Serfs. Last week a party of Chinese surrounded the house of a Klipfontein farmer named Cann, who fired on them. They, nevertheless, charged the front door of his house, smashed it open, and entered. It was only after Cann. had wounded two more of the party that they beat a retreat. At Brakpan, some 18 miles from Johannesburg, a party of Chinese entered the house of a Mrs. Sullivan, tied her hands behind her back, tied up her children, and then ransacked the house. A party of Brakpan residents afterwards armed them- selves, and set out in quest of the coolies, but could not find them. It is reported this morning that a number of Dutch farmers have united to hunt down a band of Chinese who attacked a farmhouse east of Brakpan, at Vischkuil. While a fire was in progress at the New Primrose yesterday a fierce fight occurred between coolies and the native (Zulu) police. The former used sticks and stones, the latter knobkerries. Several Chinese were badly injured, and they ultimately retreated. Last Tuesday, in tlie police-court, Johannesburg, a Chinese coolie was remanded on a charge of raping a young Dutch girl. Of course, the matter was not mentioned in the daily -press. No. 2. COLONIAL OFFICE to Mr. C. H. NORMAN. Dear Sir, Downing Street, September 14, 1905. Mr. Lyttelton desires me to return to you, as requested, the extracts from the " Daily Chronicle " and " Morning Leader," which you were good enough to send him in your letter of the 6th instant,* and to inform you that Lord Selborne has personally gone into the question of the treatment of Chinese coolies in the Trans- vaal, and is investigating the matter thoroughly. As to Mr. T. A. See's statements, Mr. Lyttelton does not consider that anything further need be said,3Ir. Bell, M.P., having agreed with him that the author of the letter to the manager of the East Rand Mines was not worthy of confidence. Of Mr. Boland Mr. Lyttelton has no knowledge, and his allegations will be brought to Lord Selborne's notice at once, with a request that they may be specifically enquired into. I am, &c., FRED. GRAHAM. No. 3. Mr. LYTTELTON to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. \_Ansicered by Nos. 5 and 14.] My Lord, Downing Street, September 16, 1905. I have the honour to transmit to you copy of a letter* from Mr. C. H. Norman on the subject of the treatment of Chinese coolies in the mines, together with a copy of my reply, t • No. 1. t No. 2. You will see that I do not consider it necessary to take any notice of the allega- tions made by the writer of the letter which appeared in the " Daily Chronicle " of the 31st of July, but I shall be glad to receive from you a full report on the specific allegations, made in Mr. F. C. Boland's letter to the " Morning Leader," as to the flogging of Chinese at the Witwatersrand Mine, the Witwatersrand Deep, and the Nourse Deep, and other forms of torture employed at the Witwatersrand Mine and the Nourse Deep, and as to outrages by the Chinese on Mr. Cann and Mrs. Sullivan, the alleged case of rape and the fight at the New Primrose mine. I also enclose a copy of a letter to the " Westminster Gazette " from Mr. F. Mackarness, and I request that you will report as to the alleged " tying-up " of coolies. I have, &c., ALFRED LYTTELTON. Enclosure in No. 3. " The Westminster Gazette," September 7, 1905. The Undesirable Ordinance. To the Editor of " The Westminster Gazette." Sir, — I am glad that Mr. Trevelyan has called attention to the alarming inferences to be ■drawn from the recent news about the Chinese in the Transvaal mines — their frequent dashes for liberty, the teiTor of the white people, and the drastic steps taken by the authorities to drive Ijack these poor yellow wretches into the clutches of the mine-owners. Before Parliament rose there was much controversy as to how far, if at all, illegal punishments are inflicted upon the Chinese working in the mines. I have before me a letter from an Englishman who has been working, since he fought in the war, in one of the mines. He has not the objections to Chinese labour that are held by Liberals, and his evidence cannot be called biassed against mine-owners. But he is indignant ■at the way in which he says the Chinese are illegally done out of their minimum wage of Is. per day by being forced to undertake contract work, under which they are liable to lose their pay altogether unless they do what the mine-manager considers an adequate day's work. He concludes his letter dealing with this subject as follows: — (Jf course, the coolies have other grievances, such as being flogged and tied up in the compound, b\it I will not wearj' you with this, especially as it is really very necessary for the maintenance of law and order. Here one breaks the law to keep the law. As it is understood that the Government and Lord Selborne are investigating the question of mine-managers flogging the Chinese, I will say for the present no more about that. What, however, I wish to call attention to is the writer's expression " tied up." I did not know what this meant until I was shown a later letter from another Englishman in the Transvaal explain- ing what it is. He encloses a snap-shot photograph of a Chinaman " tied up " in one of the mines, of which I enclose a sketch as well as the original photograph tor the benefit of your readers. The photograph was taken either by the writer or by his friend with him at the time. I am not sure which. They were both going over the mine. This is what he says about it : — Of course there are " black sheep " in every flock, and the photo shows one of these being punished. The instrument of punishment is a heavy piece of board padlocked on to the unfoi-tunate man's shoulders, and he stands in the entrance of the compound, where all his friends can see him. He naturally dislikes being photographed, as it is the disgrace and humiliation they feel more than the actual punishment. The writer of this letter defends the use of Chinese labour on the ground of its cheapness, and aays that the men are well looked after : but his camera speaks for itself. He is not, like the ■writer of the first letter, employed in the mines, but in a firm doing business with the mines. Hence the impossibility of my making public the name of either writer, though I know friends of each who guarantee their good faith. It appears. Sir, from these letters that both flogging and the form of Oriental punishment shown in the photograph are not rare or secret, but open, if not general, and the question that arises is. Has the Chinese inspector, or any other control- ling authority provided by the law, reported these illegal occurrences to the Government ; and, if not, what is the value of the inspection? If a casual visitor can see these things, why cannot Government inspectors? A great deal of indignation has been shown by defenders of the Ordinance at the word " slavery " being applied to the system sanctioned by it ; but imder what system except slavery could employers openly inflict upon what Bishop Gore has called their " animated implements " such punishments as these ? It is only under such a law that these punishments become possible. That is one of the gravest counts in the indictment against the Ordinance. Tours, faithfully, Frederic Mackarness. No. 4. Mr. LYTTELTON to Governor The EARL OF SELBORNE. (Rent 12.47 p.m., October 25. 1905.) Telegram. \^Answered by No. ^.] October 25. No. 2. I was not aware when I asked for copies of piec^-work contracts that they wei'C so varied in terms. Sir A. Lawley, in his telegram of 18th April, No. 1,* stated that these contracts were subject to approval of the Superin- tendent, who will take effective steps to ensure that they are clearly understood by the coolies. I presume that these contracts have been so approved. I also should be glad to have the views of the Superintendent upon the provision for a bonus to boss coolies contained in the last agreement enclosed in your despatch. The mining interest must be distinctly informed that every proper facility must be given to the Superintendent of Tabour in his duty of supervising and safeguarding these contracts. No. 5. Governor The EARL OF SELBORNE to Mr. LYTTELTON. (Received 6 p.m., November 1, 1905.) Telegram. November 1. A. I will send a reply to your despatch of the 16th Septemberf as soon as I possibly can. Mr. Jamieson states that before his arrival there is no doubt that owing to the insufficient number of Inspectors to visit the mines, there was on some of them flogging without the knowledge of the authorities, but he has every reason to believe that since June this has stopped. Every opportunity is given for the coolies to make complaint to the Inspectors who make careful investigation into them. Jamieson has received very few complaints, and in none of those received has ill-treatment by the mine authorities been referred to. Instructions have been given for the prosecution of guilty persons in any case where there is evidence of ill-treatment. No. 6. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to Mr. LYTTELTON. (Received November 11, 1905.) [Achwidedged by Ac. 24.] Sir, Goveinor's Office, Johannesburg, October 23, 1905. I HAVE the honour to enclose, for your information, copies of documents on the subject of a public meeting held at Pot chef stroom on the 4th October on the subject of Chinese labour. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. • Not printed. t No. 3. Enclosure 1 in No. 6. Dr. W. Mortimer to High Commissioner. My Lord, _ Potchefstroom, October 5, 1905. As Chairman of a very large and openly convened public meeting held in this town on the evening of Wednesday, October 4th, 1905, I have the honour, by the direction of that meeting, to forward to Your Excellency a copy of the resolution passed by a show of hands in the proportion of not less than twenty-five to one. I have also, by further direction of the meeting, to request that Your Excellency will be good enough to transmit a copy of the resolution to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. I have, &c., W. Mortimer, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond. To the Right Honourable The Earl of Selborne, G.C.M.G., &c., &c., &c.. His Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa, Sunnyside, Johannesburg. Resolution. That the meeting is of opinion that Chinese labour is not only unnecessary but is seriously harmful to the best interests of this country and expresses its urgent desire that the earliest possible steps be taken to repeal the Ordinance, with the exception of such clauses therein as may be absolutely necessary for the carrying out of contracts legally entered into, and which must not be extended, and fm'ther that this resolution be sent to the High Commissioner and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Enclosure 2 in No. (j. Chixksk L.\boi k. Movement for Repeal. Public Meeting at Potchefstroom. •Speech by Mr. Creswell. A. crowded public meeting was lield in tlie Lyric Hall, Potchefstroom, on Wednesday evening last, the 4th October, when Mr. F. H. P. Creswell, of Johannesburg, gave an address on the Chinese Labour Question. Over 500 people were present, including a few ladies. The Chairman (Dr. Mortimer) said the meeting had been arranged by reason of a wide- spread request of inhabitants of the town aniow it is right to tell you that this included some non-producing mines — so let us see how his producing mines only were faring. I find in the general manager's report for the same year, that in the two protlucing mines of the group, the Angelo and the Driefontein, they had in one case been able since June, and in the other since September of that year, to develop more rock than they had mined, and in both cases he states that this will continue. Clearly this bug-bear was not very real on " my mines." Now I will take three other mines — subsidiaries of the Eand Mines, Ltd. — The Glen Deep, the Geldenhuis Deep, and the Eose Deep. I find that the Eose Deep for the year ending June, 1904 — that is during the year before Chinese came — developed about 70,000 tons more than it milled: that is to say, did not trench on its reserves, but added to its reserves. That mine, it should be admitted, is one with wide reef. The Gleu Deep in the year Before the Chinese came appears to have fallen behind slightly, but in the quarter before Chinese arrived, while the labour shortage was still as acute as ever, was able to develop more tons than it milled, and this though it milled more tons that quarter than in the previous quarter. The Geldenhuis Deep in the first half of 1904 — before a single Chinaman was in the country, and while it was still running with very few natives to the stamp — also developed more tons than it milled, that is to say, did not trench on its ore reserves, but added to them. From this one can safely assume that this cry about the development falling behind was as false as the other cries raised by our Chinese friends. If it was the case that in some mines the development was allowed to fall behind as these mines fell behind at one time we can equally safely assume that it was because such mines had large reserves, and did not mind falling into arrears with their development, the main object ■of the moment being to get the mill going. Critics who do not recognise, as of course we recognise, the loftiness of view which, in the opinion of some people actuates the Chamber of Mines in all their actions, might say, that in some mines it was convenient to trench on their ore reserves tempoiarily, in order to furnish an argument in favour of Chinese I Again, getting behind those convenient defences, which technicalities afford them, they will tell you that with the short labour supply, before Chinese came, they were unable to do any sorting, and that Chinese labour has enabled them to increase their sorting, and so work their mines more economically. It is profoundly unfortunate for them that the Mines Department should issue such, admirable statistics. I find that during all the period of their so-called impossibly short labour supply, the IDerceutage of waste rock sorted out rose from 14i- per cent, in June, 1903, to as much as 18i per cent, in the early part of 1904, and that it oscillated between 17 and 18 per cent, through most of that period. I find that during their Chinese period the percentage sorted has still kept between 17 and 18 per cent. ; in no month has it gone higher than in the best month before Chinese came — - and in August, 1905, they were sorting 17^ per cent. This will show you again how sceptical you must be, when these technical points are advanced by these people — points which you cannot, from your own knowledge, assess at their true worth. Now, gentlemen, in arguing with their adherents, you will probably find them fall back on their last defence, and tell you that while it is quite true that the mines can be worked with much fewer coloured men than they claim, such working is costly and not economical. They will tell you that, in order to keep going, they have to use a lot of white men, and that working on these lines is prohibitively expensive; that coolies are very much cheaper, and that in order to work low grades mines they must use coolies. Permit me to put before you a few figures I have taken out of the quarterly reports of various companies, to show you something of the facts of the case as regards this matter. You can then judge for yourselves from these figures, how much truth there is in this claim that coolies are cheaper than white men, as a supplement to the native supply ; and whether the use of white men or the use of coolies, as a supplementary labour supply is the more likely to bring about such a reduction of the working cost that the low grade mines can be worked. I have picked out at random a number of mines, and I find that the mine showing the best results, the only one showing other than very bad results with coolies, is the Van Eyn Mine. This mine, in the June quarter of 1904, was working at a cost of 24s. 5d. per ton, aiid milled 3l),0(J0 tons in that quarter; they were then using natives and, I believe, no unskilled whites at all. A year before that they were milling 24,500 tons at a cost of 28s. 2d. per ton with 1,000 natives. 11 In the June quarter of 1905 it worked at a cost of 21s. a ton, and milled 60,000 tons. In tEat quarter it was using some 2,000 coolies. liere our opponents will say is a clear indication of the success of Chinese labour. It has both added to the production and diminished the cost per ton. So far as the diminution in the cost per ton is concerned, I will first of all ask you to notice that, in the quarter in which the costs were 21s. per ton, work was carried on, on just twice the scale that it was run when costs were 24s. 5d. per ton. We all of us know that when any industrial establishment is running at half-speed the cost of production is much greater than when working at its full capacity. Looking at the reduction effected in the previous year, and the reduction here of cost, considering they were treating twice as many tons, we may fairly say is due to the increase in the scale of work and would have been greater if this increase had been brought about without using coolies. This view is established by a consideration of the other mines I will quote to you. That the increased scale of the work was not due to the supply of coolies, and could have taken nlace without them, will also be clear to you from another case I will quote. Next, let us take the Glen Deep, v^hich received its coolies a couple of months after the Tan Ryn Companj-. At this mine you will find that in the quarter ending 31st January, 1903, they milled 20,000 tons at a cost of 27s. 4d. per ton. In the quarter ending 30th April, 1904, they milled 4u,000 tons at a cost of 21s. 8d. a ton. Notice here that labour still being short, they had managed to double the scale of their work and had reduced their costs by 5s. 8d. a ton. In tlie following quarter, ending 31st July, 1904, thev milled 40,700 tons and worked at a cost of 20s. 4d. a ton. In September, 1904, they imported 1,900 Chinese. That quarter their costs showed an increase of 58. 4d. a ton. In the last quarter for which reports are issued, that ending July 31st of this year, their costs had come down to 23s. 7d. a ton, and they milled 47,500 tons. As a result of importing these coolies the mine throughout the year has been milling a few more tons per quarter, but at a cost of from 3s. 6d. to 4 s. a ton over the whole tonnage more than it would have done if they had left Chinese alone. One imagines that the shareholders of the Glen Deep must be rather sorry they imported those 1,900 coolies if by chance they have really given any attention to the subject. At the Rose Deep you will have the same story ; a gradual reduction of the costs from September, 1903, when costs were 17s. lid. per ton, until the quarter ending September, 1904, when it was 16s. 9d. per ton. Then, in the next quarter, due quite probably to taking on more natives from the mines to which Chinese had been allotted, and " sacking " white men to make room for them, their costs rose to 17s. lOd. a ton. Then they began importing Chinese, and bj' the quarter ending 30th June, 1905, their costs had risen to 20s. 4d. a ton. The Geldenhuis tells the same tale. With a small number of natives and a large number of white men (I believe the largest number of white men employed by any mine on the Rand) they had got 160 or ISO stamps at work. The whole year through 1904 their costs remained at 19s. or 19s. Id. per ton. In the first quarter of this year ("poor shareholders!") they imported Chinese. The last quarterly report shows their costs at 22s. 3d., that is to say, Chinese have increased their costs by 3s. 3d. a ton. Next let us take the French Rand Company. In the quarter ending December, 1903. it milled 21,300 tons, and its costs were 27s. lid. a ton. By the quarter ending September 30th, 1904, it had increased its tonnage milled to 25,000 tons, and its costs had decreased to 26s. lid. It then imported Chinese, and in that quarter its costs rose to 37s. 6d. This was, however, exceptional, and in the March quarter its costs came down to 27s. Id. In the quarter ending in June last they had risen again to 27s. lOd., though they could only make it this figure by writing off Is. 2d. less to development redemption than in the previous quarter. So it had reallv risen by 2s. a ton in this quarter. In this same quarter they milled 41,000 tons. You see, therefore, that compared with the September quarter of 1904, their costs with coolies were apparently Is. a ton higher, and making the correction for development redemption really 3s. a ton higher by the June quarter of this year as the result of Chinese ; and this although the mine increased the scale of its work by 60 per cent, and should in consequence have been able to show a very material decrease in cost per ton. You see from these figures that Chinese labour so far from diminishing cost of production and bringing the low grade mines within reach as workable propositions, has increased the costs and brings us not a bit nearer to working those masses of low grade ore that we have heard so much about. Sir George Farrar, in his speech in the Legislative Council, when moving for legislation to enable his friends to import Chinese, said, in answer to certain contentions of the minority report of the Labour Commission : " We are not fools, we have faced this question of shortage of labour," and proceeded to expound how Chinese labour was the only thing to save the mines and tlie country. Now, ladies and gentlemen, one would hate to suggest anj-thing uncivil, but it must be admitted that an impartial critic when he sees the Chinese labour was not necessary to get their mines to work; was not necessary to prevent their trenching on their reserves of ore; had no effect on the amount of waste rock sorted ; and that the solitary observable effect of Chinese balour, so far as we have investigated, has been to raise the cost of production; that critic would, I think, be justified in looking upon Sir George Farrar's very natural assertion as to himselfand his colleagues, as at least open to question. Biit, ladies and gentlemen, a further examination of the records will show you that this impartial critic might after all be wrong in doubting Sir George Farrar's assurance as to his own intellectual condition. The same Court of Appeal which we have already invoked — the record of what has actually 23718 B 2 12 been accomplislied since the introduction of Chinese — lays down very clearly that one most injportant change in the working of the mines has been achieved. These records show that if Chinese have not enabled them to reduce the cost of working, or do any of the other things for which they were said to be introduced, they have enabled them to do this^ — they have enabled the mines to employ fewer white men than in the absence 6i Chinese they would have been forced to do. That this is an incontestable fact I will show you, first taking the records of the mines as a whole, and then illustrating it by the experiences on one or two particular mines. Prom the (jovernment statistics you' will find that from June, 190^, right through the period of the so-called labour shortage the mines which were producing were giving employment to about 220 white men for every 100 stamps they had to work. This number sank as low as 210 and 207 in February and March, 1904 (may one suggest just at the time when a lack of employment among the white population was useful in lending point to their arguments in favour of Chinese labour l"*) but it at once sprang up again in the following month, and in October of last year 224 white men were employed for every 100 stamps at work. From this time on the Chinese arrived in force. Mark the effect I In December of last year, i.e., two months later, 219 men only were employed for each 100 stamps at work I In February of this year, 208 men! In April, 202 men I In June, 1991 And in August, the last month of which we have records, 195 white men only foun1 Eh p; o o Eh H &< O o t~ or CO t^ CT3 CO 00 O lO t^ -H 10 o tM tH Oi 3Q CO CO ■? 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Git. 141 Brought forward. \ 6 £2 fine Paid. 2 £2 or 14 days Sentence served. 5 £3 i 05 CO O .1 CO g o to o 1 .— 1 »o r- ^ 1 ^' oo to go" o I O 1 CS CO C5 ^ S c> CO o CO CO CO M N CO OJ -** .o CI to_ to" 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 00 QO «5 Tl to o 1 3 :o CO (TO CO CO o CI CO CI CO co^ to" S o CO CO CO OD CO CO to" o 1 ! \ 1 1 1 1 1 la 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 lO o CO a,' 3 o H »0 o to CO C4 to 00 CI to co__ ic" C4 >H « CO o cl I^ oo CO ■"*« cf CI 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 CO 1 CO I- Os o CI cc" ■S £ i 9 ! O a o a in 1 O u a 3 o o o_ u '1 a o 1 O a a c |; H a a a cS u s. o o o^ tH 1 « OS CQ a> 0) I" '3. a "o a o a > 46 No. 26. The EAEL OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. (Sent 4.40 p.m., January 2, 1906.) Telegram. \Ansrreriy/ />;/ Xn. 3.'>.] January 2. No. 2. See my telegram of 23rd December, No. 1.* Wliat I wish to know is whether sufficient legal evidence is available in any specific case, and whether any prosecution has been or is about to be instituted. No. 27. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. [Spe No. 51.] My Lord, Downing Street, January 5, 1906. . I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram, No. 3, of the 21st of December,! reporting the number of persons employed on the gold mines of the whole Transvaal on the 30th of November, 1905. 2. I observe that there is a decrease of 234 in the number of white labourers employed since the 31st of October, and I should be glad to I'eceive an explanation of this fact. 3. I .should also be glad to receive a report showing whether, in the ca.?e of Chinese coolies who have served, say, six months on the mines, more or less supervision by white labourers is required than in the case of coloured labourers. I have &c. ELGIN. No. 28. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. (Sent 1 a.m., January 6, 1906.) Telegr.\m. \_Answered by Nos. 44 and 67.] January 5. No. 4. Referring to the statement in your despatch of the 18th September,:}: that .some Chinese coolies did not understand what mining labour entailed, and are undoubtedly disappointed, and will not be likely to re-engage, and having regard to the importance of aft'ording no ground for the allegation that the Chinese are detained in the Transvaal against their will solely because they have not the money necessary to secure repatriation under Clause 14 of the Contracts, I shall be glad if you will consider whether there could not be framed a regulation on the line's of Clause 7 of the Amending 'Ordinance of 1905, providing that on being satisfied by the Superintendent of Foreign Labour that a coolie who had applied for repatriation did not possess the necessary funds the Lieutenant-Governor might call on the importers to repatriate him, the Government making up the amount which the coolie could not provide. Please inform me how such a regulation would be received, and to what extent it is likely to be taken advantage of, and consider how funds to give effect to it can be provided. • No. 21. t No. 17. J No. 25 in [Cd. 2786]. 47 No. 29. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to the EARL OF ELGIN- (Received January 6, 1906.) [Answered bij No. 36.] My Lord, The Governor's Office, Johannesburg, December 18, 1905. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copies of corre- spondence, with regard to certain charges, made by Mr. Eugenio Bianchini, of improper treatment of Chinese coolies employed by the Witwatersrand Gold Mining Company, Limited. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. Enclosure 1 in No. 29. Sir SoMERs Vine to Governor. Dear Lord Selborne, P.O. Box 6242, Johannesburg, October 28, 1905. A FEW days after the meeting at Potchefstroom, on October 4th, when Mr. F. H. P. Cteswell gave an address on the Chinese question, two or three gentlemen brought, and introduced to me, a Mr. Eugenio Bianchini, late Compound (Chinese) Manager to the Witwatersrand GoldMining Company, and author of the Condensed English-Mandarin Dictionary, published b}- the Central News Agency of this town. Mr. Bianchini communicated a great number of verbal details connected with the treatment of Chinese coolies, as they had come under his personal observation, and it was suggested that these should be made publicly known at home. I pointed out to Mr. Bianchini and his friends, that, in my opinion, serious allegations such as those made by him {vide folios 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, IB, and 17) ought, in the first instance, to be brought under Your Lordship's direct notice, and that I did not think it was quite the proper thing to further excite public opinion in the United Kingdom or elsewhere until Your Lordship had been provided with an opportunity of knowing and testing the character of the statements. Mr. Bianchini said that he had been told by some of his friends that the adop- tion of such a course would probably entail — lie not being a naturalised British subject — indulgence in attempts and devices, by certain parties, to secure his expulsion from the Colony. I assured Mr. Bianchini that, if his statements were true, he could safely commit them to writing, and — I felt certain — rely on Your Lordship's protection against any injustice such as he feared. I also informed him that if he thought fit to commit his statements to paper, and sign them, I would forward the document to Your Lordship for such action thereon as you might think desirable. Mr. Bianchini eventually said he was quite willing to follow this advice. Later on he handed me the enclosed type-written statement (he signed it in my presence), and I now transmit it to Your Lordship. Mr. Bianchini added that he was quite prepared to hold himself to Your Lordship's disposal in the matter. I am, &c., J. SoMERs Vine. Treatment. In my last report of October, 1904, in connection with the treatment of the Chinese at the mine, which I sent to the Town Office, I stated as follows : — A Chinaman who has never immigrated before brings with him methods of living and working peculiar to his race. This raw Chinaman has to be transformed 48 to make him useful. -Fine compoimds and experienced men in charge will not alone be able to bring about such transformation. It seems to me that it is on the patience, good-will, and skill of the white miners, who are brought daily into contact with the Chinese, that the transformation from raw workmen into efficient ones depends. I am of opinion that this important transformation will not he successfully attained unless all the miners coneui' in giving their whole influence to the gradual trans- formation of John Chinaman. It happens, unfortunately, that some of them appear to me as being prejudiced against the Chinese, and to desire the failure of the latter, and that they will not, therefore, lend their co-operation towards the object to be attained. It is doubtful whether a Chinaman will be satisfied with the treatment received from some of his bosses if every word and act of the latter is accompanied by marks of contempt for the Celestials. Orders are naturally communicated to the Chinese in English, and most of the bosses take for granted that their orders are nndei-stood. Should a Chinaman dare to convey to his boss, by gestures, that he is not clear as to any order, some of the bosses will at once turn on him with a long list of vulgar insults. The Chinese under- stand immediately that the cursing is addressed to them, and begin to cui-se the white man back. No wonder if the prestige of the white man is lost. Still he dares to complain if at times the Chinaman refuses to obey him. It happens sometimes that a Chinaman is not physically strong enough to perform satisfactorily the work given to him, but simply because the Chinaman was, irrespective of his aliility, allotted to a certain boss, he has to remain with him; and without consideration to his physique he has at times to perform a job which may be perhaps beyond his natural power to do. Amongst the bosses superintending the Chinese, there are some of unenviable character and bad temper. These kind of men are, however, supposed to get along well with the Chinese. John Chinaman will soon find out the character of the person under whose supervision he has to work, and in many cases he will refuse to go with such men. Complaints in such cases are occasionally ignoretl, especially when the white man concerned happens to be on friendly terms with " some one in authority." It is now almost a year since I made out the above statement, and I have now to admit, that as far as my knowledge goes, things in general, as stated above, have not improved since. I feel convinced, and this conviction is backed by twelve months' experience in a iChinese compound, that the tactless handling and had treatment which the Chinese receive from most of the white miners are mainly responsible now, as it happened to be a year ago, for the dissatisfaction existing amongst the coolies. Cases of desertions of coolies from compounds, and isolated cases where the Chinese react against their w^hite overseers, are also due to abuses and ill-treatment. If some of the coolies stand patiently abuses and undesirable treatment, it is because they look forward to their Compound Manager for redress, but I regret to say that this desired redress, this natural satisfaction due to any free human being, irrespective of his race or colour, w^as in most cases never granted by the General Manager. There are also cases which unfortunately reflect upon the carelessness of some of the miners, as regards the safety of the Chinese underground. There are other cases when unscrupulous mineis borrow watches and mone\' from the Chinese under their supervision, and never return the same. To this special statement I refer all the complaints from abused, ill-treated, and knocked-about coolies which at surprisingly frequent intervals I have been sending on to the General Manager. Unfortunately, however, as far as my recollection goes, I can trace no instance where I was informed that something had been done to stop the repetition of similar abuses, although I was given on various occasions ample assurances that just com plaints on the part of the coolies would receive immediate attention. 49 In connection with the management lending a benevolent ear to crippled coolies towards making their miserable existence less unpleasant, I may mention the case where a young and healthy Chinaman lost, through an accident, his right leg last February. This unTortunate coolie was still at the hospital the day of my departure from the mine, as he was incapacitated to walk, not owing to the wound not being healed, but to the lack of an artificial limb. Besides, the £5 due to him for permanent partial disablement had not up to September 23rd yet been paid to him, although this case has been the object of many requests being sent by me to the General Office, the last one being dated August 30th. Wages and Rise of Wages. The coolies arrived at the Witwatersrand mine approximately on the following dates : — 601 coolies September 27th and 28th, 1904. 450 coolies November 24th, 1904. 1,261 coolies November 29th, 30th, and December 1st, 1904. 746 coolies January 2nd and 3rd, 1905. A schedule of coolie wages was drawn up by the mine officials in October, 1904, and the coolies were paid according to the rates of wages stated therein. Rates of wages for coolies doing ordinary work were as follows : Is., Is. 2d., Is. 3d., Is. 4d. and Is. 6d per diem; the latter rate was paid to fire-boys and boss-boys only. The compound staff included police-boys and headmen, rated at 2s. per day, and cooks, at Is. 9d. The Labour Importation Ordinance, 1904, Form 1., Contract of Service, Section 6. reads as follows : — " If, however, within six months from the date of said labourer's arrival in the Witwatersrand district the average pay of the labourers employed by the said CD. under the said Ordinance does not equal 50 shillings for thirty working days the rate shall be increased from one shilling to one shilling and sixpence for each working day of 10 hours." According to above Contract of Service the wages of the first batch of 601 coolies on day pay, who arrived at the mine at the end of September last year, should have been raised in April, 1905. The wages of the second and third batches of 1,711 coolies on day pay, who arrived approximately during the last week in November, 1904, should have been increased in June, 1905. And, finally, the wages of the last batch of 746 coolies on day pay, who arrived at the mine January 2nd and 3rd, ought to have been raised in Jtdy, 1905. But no rise in wages was made on any of the above dates, and the average pay of the labourers was far below Is. 8d. at the end of June, 1905. The first batch of coolies whose wages were due to be raised, during April, advanced reiterated complaints to the effect that the mine was not paying to them the rate of wages as per term of contract. I wrote to this effect to the Mine Secretary on May 26th, 1905. I received an answer from him the same day, stating that with reference " to the increase of wages he (the Secretary) had arranged with the General Manager to go into the matter at once." Unfortunately, however, this matter, as far as my knowledge goes, was never taken into consideration. Piece-work was, some time last April, arranged, at a mutually agreed rate, between the mine and about 100 tailing boys (discharging and transferring). No riseof wages was, on the strength of this arrangement, consequently due to those coolies. The rock drill coolies (amounting to about 420) who were paid at the rate of Is. 4d. per diem were promised a rise in their wages to Is. 8d. at the end of May. As far as I can remember a very few rock-drill coolies only received the promised 23718 Gr 50 increase at the end of June. This fact, of coiir.se, created a great dissatisfaction amongst them. During the period from the end of May to the end of August about 300 rock- drill coolies, out of, say, 420, were increased to Is. 8d. per diem. There remained still about 120 rock-drill coolies to be raised, and to this efTect I wrote to the Acting Secretary on September 13th, 1905, giving a list with numbers of above coolies. But up to September 23rd, the date of my leaving the compound, I received no answer. The drill-carrier wages remained stationary at Is. per diem. The fire-boys (about 36 coolies in all) were also increased from Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per diem last Jul}'. The above practically covers all the increases made in the coolie wages during my twelve months' stay at the Witwatersrand Mine Compound. If from the coolie complement, which is at present, roughly speaking, 3,000 men, we deduct, say, 100 coolies employed on piece-work, and about 336 who received an increase, the remaining lot represents the number of coolies whose wages are still wrongly rated according to the old schedule of October, 1904. Reiterated complaints regarding the rise of wages as per term of contract having been made to me again by the coolies, I reported the whole affair to the General Manager with my "letter dated September 4th, 1905, who, in his reply of even date, while admitting of the coolie wages being below the standard required by the Ordinance, he thought that the month of September would put matters right. On the occasion of Major the Honourable W. L. Bagot, General Manager of the Chamber of Mines Labour Importation Agency, visiting the compound, together with the General Manager of the mine, on September 10th 1905, the coolies com- plained to the former about the wages not being raised as per contract, and the General Manager, in the presence of above Major Bagot, made a formal promise to the Chinese headmen and coolies (which I translated to them) that an increase of wages should be given to those coolies working for day pay by the end of September. The neglect on the part of the management to make good just complaints advanced by the coolies, through me, vice versa the open dissatisfaction evinced to me on several occasions by the management in connection with the coolies not doing suffi- cient work, made my position as Compound Manager most undesirable and untenable, and it was owing to this and other reasons that I felt compelled to give my resigna- tion on September 6th. Coolies wages for drilling were rated at first, at ^d. per inch drilled, but it was resolved by the management afterwards that coolies drilling under 24 inches in a day should not be paid. In order to encourage coolies to drill a fair average every day a system of bonus was introduced whereby coolies drilling from 36 inches to 47 inches daily received, besides their ordinary pay at kl. per inch, 3d. bonus. 48 inches to 59 inches, 5d. bonus. 60 inches to 71 inches, 7d. bonus. 72 inches and over, 9d. bonus. This system of bonus, however good it may prove to boys doing hand-stoping, it is, owing to the way in which it is applied, totally detrimental to the remainder of the coolies who are not employed on piece-work. The reason is this. The Labour Importation Ordinance, 1904, Form 1., Contract of Service, in dealing with the average pay of labourers employed, specifies that if this average does not equal fifty shillmgs for thirty working days the rate of wages shall be increased to one shilling and sixpence for each working day of ten hours. Supposing, now, that the tailing boys, who slave themselves every day (most Sundays included), and a fair amount of hand stopers doing piece-work, succeed through hard work in earning a higher wage than Is. 8d. per diem, the difference existing between this higher wage earned by each single coolie and the average pay of Is. 8d. will go, if the average pay of the labourers is reckoned by adding together the amount of the day-pay coolie wages with the amount of piece-work coolie wages, to the total detriment of the coolies not employed on piece-work — in fact, if a coolie drills, say, an average of 60 inches per day, his ordinary daily pay will 51 amount to 2s. 6<:I., phis 7d. bonus, making a totcal of 3s. Id. per diem. The difference of Is. 5d. resuhing from the earned wage of 3s. Id. and Is. 8d., average specified by the Ordinance, will go to theoretically increase the wages of those boys who receive Is., Is. 2d., Is. 3d., and Is. 4d. per diem without any material advantage being felt by them, who, owing to the nature of their work cannot do piece-work. It would only be just and fair to the labourers in figuring this average pay, that the total amount of the wages for coolies doing piece-work should not be reckoned, and that the total amount of the wages earned by da'y-pay coolies only, should be reckoned in figuring the standard average required by the Ordinance. Drilling. Coolies drilling less than 24 inches in a day do not receive any ticket, and are consequently entitled to no pay for that day. A point which has originated no end of complaints on the part of the coolies drilling dry holes has, as far as my knowlera), show a labour force of : — ■Whites. 17..3.53 Natives. Chinese. Total, Coloured. 87,110 4r),956 133,075 As regards the number of white men employed, it is immaterial whether the coloured labour employed is native or Chinese. If the total coloured labour force is reduced by the removal of 45,956 Chinese, i.e., by rather more than one-third, the white labour force will be reduced in the same proportion, i.e., say, from 5,800 to 6,000 white men will be thrown out of employment. The indirect results on the employment of white labour would be more far- reaching, but are much harder to estimate. It has been estimated {see Mr. H. H. Webb's evidence before the Transvaal Labour Commission, questions Nos. 11,884 and 11,885) that, for every white man employed on the Witwatersrand mines, there are twelve white inhabitants of the Witwatersrand. According to the latest census this is an over-estimate. The latest census, which was taken on the 17th April, 1904, shows 114,021 white persons resident on the Witwatersrand, not including the agricultural portion of Krugersdorp, i.e., resident on the mining and industrial area proper. Now, in April, 1904, the number of Avhite men directly employed by the Wit- watersrand gold mines was 12,039. Therefore, the proportion between the number of white men directly employed by the mines and the total white population of the Witwatersrand is about 1 to 9.5. Of the 114,021 per.sons above referred to, 51,518 were adult males. Deducting the 12,039 white men directly employed, we find that there were on the Witwatersrand in April, 1904, 39,479 adult white males, who must have owed their livelihood indirectly to the mines, as gold mining is the only industry in the Witwatersrand area. The proportion between 12,039 and 39,479 is roughly 1 to 3, and the actual population of the Witwatersrand area has increased since April, 1904, 'pari passu with the growth of the mining industry. Therefore, it is fair to say that, if through the sending away of all the Chinese labourers, the operations of the mining industry were curtailed by one-third, and from 5,800 to 6,000 white men directly employed by the mines were to lose their employment, from 17,400 to 18,000 white men, indirectly dependent upon the mines, would, sooner or later, lose their means of livelihood also. N.B. — It must not be for a moment supposed that the industrial and commercial effects of such a crisis would be felt only on the Witwatersrand. The trade, com- merce, and industry of South Africa is really all one from the Cape to the Zambesi, and the effects of the crisis would manifest themselves in every Colony. II. Effect on Trade and Tradesmen of the Transvaal. In October, 1905, with the labour forces specified above, the Witwatersrand mines dropped 6,725 stamps, producing, in that month, £1,692,918 worth of gold. According to the Chamber of Mines {see their statement to the Labour Com- mission Report, p. 590), the local trade accounts of the mining companies work out at £55 per stamp per month. Therefore, the value of local stores consumed during October, 1905 (including coal), was £55 x 6,725, equals £369,875, i.e., at the rate of £4,438,500 per annum. The approximate wages paid to white men during October, 1905, were at the rate of £5,413,136 per annum. The wages earned by Chinese during October, 1905, were £81,292, i.e., at the rate of £975,504 per annum. Practically the whole of these wages are spent locally, the sums remitted by the Chinese to their own country being so small as to be practically negligible. During the first six months of this year only about £16,000 of the wages earned by the Chinese were paid to their relatives in China under the allotment scheme. If, therefore, all the Chinese were sent home, and, as a consequence, the total 'operations of the mining industry were reduced by one-third, the sums of money now spent locally would be reduced by the following amounts : — (i.) Practically the whole of the wages earned by the Chinese, say £975,504 (ii.) One-third of £4,438,500, being the annual expenditure of the mining companies on local stores {vide sujjra) ... ... 1,479,500 (iii.) One-third of £5,413,136, being the annual expenditure of the mines on white men's wages {vide supra) ... 1,804,378 £4,259,382 In round figures, four and a quarter millions per annum. These calculations are admittedly only approximate, but they cannot be far from the truth. How the loss, which would be involved in a diminution of the local expenditure of the mining industry by £4,259,382 a year, would be distributed among the trading community, it is impossible to say; but it is not hard to believe that such a loss would mean loss of employment to 18,000 white men. These calcu- lations, therefore, bear out the remarks made in Part I. of this memorandum. T 9 23718 68 III. Probable Effect on Revenue. The effects upon revenue, which would follow from the removal of the Chinese, are even harder to estimate with accuracy than the effects upon the employment of white labour or the effects upon the trading community. The withdrawal of the Chinese would make itself felt directly on two main heads of revenue : — (i.) The 10 per cent, tax on the net profits of gold mining; (ii.) The Customs. (i.) The profits tax depends upon the output of gold. Premising, as before, that one-third of the gold mining industry depends upon the Chinese, we must assume that one-third of the profits tax is earned for the revenue by the Chinese. Now, the estimate of revenue from the profits tax for the financial year 1905-6 is £450,000. Therefore, if the Chinese were removed, the revenue would lose £150,000. (ii.) It has been shown above that, if the Chinese were withdrawn, the local expenditure of mines would be reduced by £4,250,000 per annum. It is obvious that this reduction of local expenditure would result in an enormous diminution of the revenue accruing from general trading licences, mining licences, and miscellaneous mining dues. What the further effects of this diminution of local expenditure might be, i.e., what part of the £4,250,000 finds its way into the revenue it is impossible to say with any attempt at accuracy; but it is obvious that the loss to the trading community resulting from the withdrawal of £4,250,000 a year from circu- lation would necessarily be reflected in the revenue returns. This loss to revenue would principally make itself felt in the diminution of Customs receipts. Under the South African Customs Union Tariff, all articles not subject to special duties and not on the free list are subject to a general ad valorem import duty of 10 per cent. Setting off the articles subject to special duties against those on the free list, it is found that about 11 per cent, of the value of all imported goods is paid into the Customs. Now. assuming, as seems fair, having regard to the poverty of South Africa in all industries except those of agriculture and mining, that £2,000,000 of the £4,250,000 above referred to, would be spent on imported articles if the Chinese were not withdrawn, and that retail prices in Johannesburg are 100 per cent, higher than the original over-sea cost of imported articles, the loss to Customs revenue from this source which would follow from the withdrawal of the Chinese would be 11 per cent, on half of £2,000,000, equals £1,000,000, i.e., £110,000, or, to make a conservative estimate, say, £100,000 a year. It may fairly be said, therefore, that the loss to the Transvaal revenue, which would follow from the withdrawal of the Chinese, would amount to at least (i.), £150,000; (ii.), £100,000; total, £250,000 a year; in addition to the loss from general trading licences, mining licences, and miscellaneous mining dues, which cannot be calculated. IV. Probable Effect on Revenues of Central South African Railways, Natal Government Railways, and Cape Government Railways. In estimating- this it is necessary to refer to the general contention on which this memorandum is based, viz., that the whole of Johannesburg and the Witwaters- rand depends upon the gold mining industry, and that the gold mining industry depends upon its unskilled labour supply. If, therefore, this unskilled labour supply is reduced by one-third, the railway traffic to and from Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand stations will eventually be reduced by one-third. Now, the Central South African Railways Administration states that the Johannesburg and Witwatersrand traffic amounts to three-fifths of the whole traffic of the Central South African Railways. The loss of one-third of these three-fifths 69 means, of course, the loss of one-fifth of the whole traffic. Now, assuming that this loss was distributed among the railway systems which supply the Transvaal in proportion to the amount of Transvaal traffic which they now carry, the Central South African Railways would lose in railway revenue (including revenue for through and local traffic) £853,223 per annum. The Cape Government Railways would lose in railway revenue (from through traffic only) £245,330 per annum. The Natal Government Railways would lose in railway revenue £208,514 per annum. {See the report of the General Manager of the Central South African Railways for 1904, Statement No. XV.) V. Ejfect on Colonial Budgets. The Inter-Colonial estimates for 1905-6 show an estimated revenue of £5,990,831, including a contribution of £973,838 from the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, and an estimated expenditure of the same amount. If, therefore, t^e Central South African Railways were to lose £853,223 in revenue {see Ch. IV.), the contributions of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony would have to be increased by this amount, unless Inter-Colonial Council expenditure were propor- tionately reduced. In fact, of course, Inter-Colonial Council expenditure would be largely reduced, because the staff and working expenses of the railways would be reduced as revenue fell off, though not to the same extent. No account has, how- ever, been taken of this in the ensuing calculation, which is given as being illus- trative of the loss to the community >vhich would follow in some form or other from the stagnation in railway traffic referred to above {e.g., the reductions in railway staff would swell the ranks of the unemployed and increase the general distress alike in all the Colonies affected). Assuming that the additional contribution were borne by the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, respectively, in the present proportion of roughly 5| : 1, Iransvaal expenditure would be increased (roughly) by £722,000, and Orange River Colony expenditure (roughly) by £131,000. Now, the Transvaal estimates for 1905-6 show revenue £4,545,000, ordinary net expenditure £4,447,151, i.e., an estimated surplus of £97,849. This surplus would, therefore, be turned into a deficit of £624,151 by the increased contribution which would be required by the Inter-Colonial Council. At the same time, Transvaal revenue would have fallen off by at least £250,000 a year {see Ch. III.). The total Transvaal deficit would, therefore, amount to £874,151 {see note on next page), unless expenditure were proportionately reduced. Expenditure could not be thus reduced without disastrous consequences to the most vital interests of tTie Colony, such as education, agriculture, irrigation, and the improvement of com- munications by road and rail. The Orange River Colony estimates for 1905-6 show revenue £695,000, expen- diture £792,680, deficit £97,680, to be made up from cash balances. The deficit would be increased to £228,680 {see Note) by the increased contribution, which woulrt be required from the Orange River Colony, a deficit w^hich the total cash balances available on the 30th June, 1905, would only just have been sufficient to meet for one year. The Cape Colony estimates for 1905-6 show revenue £8,880,000, expenditure £^3,828,005, surplus £52,000. If, therefore, the Cape Colony lost £245,330 in railway revenue; the surplus of £52;000 would be converted into a deficit of £193,330 {see Note). The Natal estimates for 1905-6 show revenue £3,966,000, expenditure (out of jevenue) £3,933,857, surplus £32,143. 70 If, therefore, Natal lost £208,514 in railway revenue the surplus of £32,143 would be converted into a deficit of £176,371 {see Note.) Note. — These deficits would, of course, be reduced by whatever economies the Central South African Railways, the Cape Government Railways, or the Natal Government Railways had been able to effect by the discharge of staff and reduction of working expenses. VI. Effect of Chinese Labour on the Native Labour Siqyply. In this connection the attached statement by the Chairman of the Witwaters- rand Native Labour Association, Appendix " A," is interesting. The argument of that statement is that there is, in normal times, a more or less fixed quantity of native labour available for all kinds of employment. As the general prosperity increases, a greater proportion of the supply finds its way into employments other than mining. As the general prosperity decreases, the supply tends to find its way back to the mines. Now, the recent increase in the general prosperity, which can only be due to the use of Chinese labour on the mines, has diminished the native labour supply for mining. If the Chinese labourers were sent away, no doubt a larger number of native labourers than are now employed by the mines would be available for mining; but this Avould only be because of the blow which would be dealt by the withdrawal of the Chinese to the general prosperity. And in any case any possible increase in the native labour supply for the mines which could take place in this way could not come within measurable distance of compensating the mines for the loss of the Chinese. It should further be pointed out that Appendix " A " relates only to the employ- ment of native labour within labour districts, i.e., it takes no account of the agri- cultural district where the demand for labour is everywhere urgent and where the farmers cannot afford to pay such high wages as the mines. If the Chinese were withdrawn, the mines, in spite of any increase in their native labour supply which might follow from the fall in the general prosperity, would be in such straits for labour that they would use every effort to attract it from the agricultural districts by offers of wages with which the farmers could not compete. Thus, the position of the far-mers, as regards their labour supply, in many parts of the country would become impossible. Appendix " A." Memorandum. I haye lately had an opportunity of examining the statistics compiled by the Native Affairs Department, showing the total number of natives working under European employers in labour districts only of the Transvaal. These districts include Johannesburg, Germiston, Krugersdorp, Boksburg, Heidelburg, Klerksdorp, Vereeniging, and Pretoria (district, not municipality). They do not, therefore,, include the natives at work in the Barberton district or in the Lydenburg district^ or on any of the low country mines. The figures give the total number employed at the end of each month from July, 1904, to September, 1905. The natives employed are divided into two classes, (A) tliose employed " On Mines and Works," which includes gold, coal, and diamond mines, a few lime and brick works, electric works, Zuurbekom Waterworks and the dynamite factory; and (B) natives in "Other Employ." This includes the Central South African .Railways, Public Works, Government Departments, domestic service, contractors (whether employed on mines or not), and other private employments. There is some interest in a comparison of the figures of those two classes month by month, and also in a comparison of the figures of Class (A) with the figures of natives employed by members of this Association. 71 I. First of all, let us take the total number of natives employed in labour districts in tlie Transvaal, hicluding both Classes (A) and (B). This was 130,258 at the end of July, 1901, and fell in August, 1901, to 129,922. From that time there was a steady increase every month, until high-water mark was reached in April, 1905, when the total number of natives employed was 185,681. 1 shall return presently to analyse these figures. From April to September there was a steady decrease, tie total number of natives employed in labour districts on the 30th September last being 177,061. The first point to notice is that the increase or decrease in the total number of natives employed is by no means parallel to the increase or decrease in the number of those employed on " Mines and Works." From April to September it will be seen that there was a decrease in the total number employed of 8,620. But the decrease of those employed on "Mines and Works" was 13,211. In the number of those in " Other Employ " there was an actual increase of 4,591, the number so employed in April being 74,820, and in September 79,411. It would thus appear that the decrease in the number of natives employed on mines during the last six months is partially accounted for by the increased demand for labour of other employers, not mining, in mining districts. As the rate of wages ruling outside the mines is generally higher than that ruling on the mines, other employers have, of course, the first call on the total labour available, and an increased demand on their part means a necessary shrinkage in the native labour available for the mines, even if the total amount of labour available in mining districts does not diminish. The demands of " Other Employers," within mining districts, appear to have been steadily rising for over a year. In July, 1904, " Other Employ " accounted for 55,973 natives. This number had risen to 75,462 in February, 1905. It was a few hundred less in March, April, and May, and then rose again month by month to the September figure of 79,411. 11. To take a second basis of comparison over the same period, namely, that between the number of natives employed by " Mines and Works " and the number employed by the members of the Association. The decrease in the number of natives employed by members of the Association (including contractors' natives) between April and September was 10,580. As stated above, the decrease in " Mines and Works " as a whole was 13,211. The decrease in the number employed on " Mines and Works " outside members of the Association was, therefore, 2,631, the total number employed on " Mines and Works," excluding the members of the Association, being 14,647 in April and 12,016 in September. This shows a decrease of 15 per cent, in the natives employed by " Mines and Works " other than members of the Association, as against a decrease of 11 per cent, in the number of natives employed by members of the Association. Considering that the " Mines and Works " other than members of the Association include employers like the Premier Diamond Company and the Dynamite Factory, which pay higher wages than the mines, it would appear that members of the Association are suffering less from the shortage of labour than other mining employers. III. It is also instructive to compare the number of natives employed in labour districts at the three following periods :— September, 1904, April, 1905, and September, 1905. The number employed in April, 1905, is so greatly in excess of the normal number at any time past that it cannot be reckoned upon as a permanent basis of supply. The total number of natives employed in labour districts in September, 1904, was 135,954, and this appears to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of the normal number employed since the war, and to be at least as great as the normal number employed before the war. On this latter point it is impossible to speak absolutely, because the statistics of natives employed otherwise than on the mines before the war are founded merely on estimates, which, however, are likely to he approximately correct. But there does not seem to be any substantial reason for hoping that the total native labour force available for employment in the labour 72 districts of the Transvaal, when the industrial demands of other parts of South Africa have been met, will exceed the number available in September, 1904, i.e., approximately 135,000. In the six months following that date, owing to the great depression in other industrial centres and to the cessation of public and private works in South Africa generally the native labour force available for employment in the labour districts of the Transvaal grew very rapidly, until it reached 185,000 in last April, or about 50,000 in excess of the normal figure. But as activity revives in other parts of South Africa, this supernumeraiy labour foice will naturally be drawn off from the labour districts of the Transvaal, seeing that local employment always has a first call on native labour, if the wages are at all equal, and seeing tHat the wages paid for industrial native labour in other parts of South Africa are, as a matter of fact, equal to those paid in the Transvaal. I am not now speaking of the demands of agriculture, which I am leaving on one side altogether, but of the demand for labour on docks, railways, and in domestic and other employ- ment in the towns. All these occupations absorb a large quantity of native labour in the coastal and inland towns of South Africa, whenever trade and business are active, as they were in the two years following the war. As soon as a period of activity recurs, therefore, we cannot reasonably reckon more than 130,000 to 140,000 as the number of native labourers available for service in the labour districts of the Transvaal. As a matter of fact, the period of greatest stagnation appears to have been reached last April. Since that time there has been a certain revival of activity in other parts of South Africa, with the result that the number of native labourers at work in the Transvaal labour districts has diminished, though it has by no means yet fallen to the point where it stood in 1903 and 1904. IV. We may now consider the following figures, which give the labour employed in labour districts for the Transvaal ; (a) by members of the Association, (b) by out- side mines and works, (c) by other employers, at the three periods September, 1904, April, 1905, and September, 1905 : — Members of Witwatersrand Native Labour Association. Outside mines and works .. Other employers September, 1904. April. iyo.>. I September, 1905. 68,.545 6,627 60,782 135,9.^4: 96,224 14,647 74,820 185,681 85,634 12,016 79,411 177,061 If the conclusions above stated (in paragraph III.) be admitted, we must take September, 1904, at a normal period, as regards the total number of native labourers available for employment in labour districts. At any rate it is a number to which we must expect to return in the ease of any revival of activity through South Africa generally. Admitting this, we have to consider the probable way in which this total labour force for labour districts would be divided between the mines and other employers. It is clear that the demands of other employers in labour districts have very largely increased in the past year, and are still increasing. If it be a fact, as everything seems to show, that other employers have the first call on the labour available in labour districts, owing to the high wages that they pay, and the generally easier and more attractive nature of the work, it follows that whatever diminution there may be in the total labour force available for labour districts will fan almost exclusively on the mines. If we assume that owing to a revival of activity throughout South Africa, the native labour force available for labour districts falls to its normal figure, i.e., that of September, 1904, and at the same time that the demand of other employers in labour districts remain even what they are at present, without any increase, we shall have the following result. The total native labour force available in labour districts will be 135,954, the figure of September, 1904. The demands of other employers in labour districts will be 79,411, which was the number employed by them in September, 1905. Judging by 73 analogy these demands are likely to be greater, but we will assume that they remain at their present figure. This will leave a balance of 56,543 available for mines and works in the labour districts. This number, again, will have to be divided between members of the Association and outside mines and works. The number employed by outside mines and works in September, 1905, was 12,016; and if we assume that these outside mines and works retain their labourers, this would leave 44,527 natives only for employment by members of the Association. Adding the number of con- tractors' natives employed by members of the Association, which is not included in the above calculations, and which has varied in the past two years from about 5,00'0 to 6,000, we should get a round total of 50,000 natives available for the members- of the Association. As the present strength of native labour employed by members of the Association is 90,000, this would mean that we- might have to face a possible decrease of 40,000 before the normal position of affairs was reached. The decrease would, of course, in any case be gradual, and its rate w^ould be determined mainly by the activity of business throughout South Africa generally, and the consequent rise of the demand for industrial labour in other parts of the country to the same- figure as in 1903 and 1904. As a matter of fact, however, the above calculation is likely to be modified in' our favour by three considerations : — 1. A part of the loss may fall on outside mines and works. As has been; seen, the shrinkage of the last few months has told upon these even more heavily than upon members of the Association. Assuming that they bear their proportion of the anticipated shrinkage, this would^ give about 5,000 more natives to members of the Association, when the normal state of affairs is reached, i.e., a total of 55,000 instead of 50,000, including contractors' natives. But it must be remembered that although certain outside mines and works will bear their share, and perhaps more than their share, of the shrinkage, as compared with members of the Association, other outside mines and works will not bear any part' of the shrinkage at all, owing to their paying considerably higher wages, e.g., the Premier Diamond Mine. Moreover, this mine, and perhaps one or two other employers included under outside mines and works, will certainly largely increase their demands in the near future. This is likely tO' counterbalance the benefit obtained from the shrinkage falling partly on outside mines and works, instead of wholly upon members of the Association. 2. The Government of Portuguese East Africa, owing to the abuses which jDrevailed before the war, only allows the recruiting of natives in its terriory for service outside, on the fulfilment of certain conditions as- to depots, guarantee of recruiters and other matters. Owing to the great expense involved and the large staff required to carry out these conditions it is practically out of the question for private employers to fulfil them. In consequence, no licences to recruit on Portuguese territory have been granted to private employers for several years. As long as this attitude of the Portuguese Government lasts, this important source of supply is, of course, guarded to a great extent from that form of shrinkage which is caused by attraction of natives- to other employment. The considerations above-mentioned, therefore, would not apply to this particular class of native labour, except in so far as other employers may be able to divert it from the mines, after discharge. 3. A similar state of things prevails in the case of natives from the various Central African districts. These natives, like the Portuguese natives, are brought into the country under conditions which are regulated by agreement with the Governments under which they live. Private employers are practically excluded by the nature of these conditions from recruiting in the districts in question. These natives, therefore, like the Portuguese natives, are not subject to a shrinkage in number through the attraction of other employment. As against this, how- ever, there is a possibility that it may be necessary to close these 2o718 ^ 74 sources of supply altogether, unless the high death-rate amongst Central African natives, which appears to be caused either through their comparative want of stamina or hy the change of climate, and which, so far, all precautions have proved ineffectual to check, can be reduced in the near future. To sum up, the following conclusions may be drawn from the facts stated above : — («.) The normal number of natives available for employment in the labour districts of the Transvaal is between 130,000 and 140,000. This number is not likely to be exceeded when trade and business are active in other parts of the Sub-Continent. (b.) The number of natives at present employed in the labour districts of the Transvaal is some 40,000 in excess of the normal figure. It is not unlikely, therefore, that it will decrease to that extent within a com- paratively short time. (c.) The proportion of natives available for employment within labour Sisti'icts which is absorbed by other employment than mines and works, has been steadily increasing for a long time past, and at present stands at approximately 79,000. (d.) The anticipated shrinkage in the total number of natives employed in labour districts is likely to fall on mines and works alone, seeing that • a higher rate of wages is to be obtained in other employment, which, ; accordingly have first call on whatever labour is available. (e.) Even assuming, therefore, that the demands of other employers within labour districts do not increase, mines and works may have to face a shrinkage of approximately 40,000 in the number of labourers employed. This shrinkage may be divided between members of the Association and outside mines and works. But as the total number employed by outside mines and works does not at the present moment exceed 12,000, and as a large proportion of this number is in receipt of higher wages than are paid by members of the Association generally, the greater part of the shrinkage, if and when it occui"s, must fall upon members of the Association. (/.) The last conclusion (e) may be modified by the fact that the Association had a practical advantage in the recruitment of natives from Portu- guese East Africa and from Central Africa, owing to the conditions imposed on recruiting by the Governments of these territories. The shrinkage, therefore, may be confined to the withdrawal from mines and works of all natives other than those coming from the territories in question. This, however, will only be the case as long as the present conditions are maintained. Moreover, the Central African sources may be closed altogether on account of the high mortality amongst the Central African natives. There seems no way of avoiding the above conclusions unless the mining industry is prepared to enter upon a ruinous competition ; (a) with other employers in labour districts; (b) with employers in other parts of South Africa, by raising wages against them. Moreover, it is not likely that this would be permanently effective, as other employers would raise wages in their turn. They can afford to do this indefinitely, inasmuch as they can put up the prices which they charge to cover the increased cost of labour, whereas the mining industry cannot put up the price of gold. That this would be the result of the raising of wages on the mines may fairly be deduced from what has happened since the war. The raising of wages on the mines has been accompanied by a simultaneous rise in native wages all round, both in labour districts and in other parts of South Africa. The competition would only be checked by native labour becoming so expensive that trade and industry generally were checked. Tliis, of course, would limit the field of outside employment, and would make a greater number of labourers available for the mines. But it is a result which is hardly to be desired in the interests of the country as a whole, any more than in that of the mines themselves. / o V. We may now examine in detail the variation in the number of natives employed in labour districts according to the sources from which they are drawn, distinguishing- between those employed on mines and works, and those in the service of other employ- ers. Three periods have been taken : September, 1904 (when the total supply stood approximately at the normal figure), April, 1905 (when the total supply reached its highest point, owing to the decrease in the demand for labour in other parts of South Africa, and partly, perhaps, owing to the bad harvests), and, September, 1905. Cape Colony. — The total number of labourers from Cape Colony employed in Transvaal labour districts at the three periods mentioned was as follows: — September, l'.iii4. 19,568 April, 11(05 33,783 September, lyOo. 26,472 This number was divided as follows: — Mines and works Other employment ... September, 1904. j April, 190"). September, 1905 6,638 ] 2,930 17,530 16,253 9,118 17,351 It will be seen that the number of Cape Colony natives employed on the mines increased by 10,892 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and then decreased by 8,412 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. The figure of September, 1905,. however, is still higher by 2,480 than that of September, 1904. The number of Cape Colony natives in other employ increased by 3,323 between September, 1904, and April, 1905. Between April, 1905, and September, 1905, there was a further increase of 1,101. This coincided, it will be remembered, with a decrease of over 8,000 in the number of Cape Colony natives employed on the mines and with a general decrease in the total number of Cape Colony natives employed in labour districts. The number of Cape Colony natives in other employ in labour districts was, in September, 1905, 4,424 greater than it was in September, 1904. If the total number of Cape Colony natives available for labour districts be supposed' to be the figure of September, 1904, i.e., 19,568, and if the total number absorbed by other employers be supposed to be the figure of September, 1905, i.e., 17,354, it will be seen that only about 2,000 Cape Colony natives are left over for mines and works. Basutoland and Orange River Colony. — The total number of these natives- employed in Transvaal labour districts for the three periods was as follows: — September, 1904. April, 190.). September, 1905. 9,-519 13,685 12,508 They were divided as follows: September. 1904. I April, 1905, September, 1905. Mines and works Other employment ... 2,090 7,429 4,985 8.701 2,690 9,81S It will be seen that the number of these natives employed on mines and works increased by 2,895 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and diminished by 23718 ^ ^ 7G 2,295 Between April, 1905, and September, 1905. The number employed in Septem- ber, 1905, was 600 greater than that employed in September, 1904. The number in the service of other employei-s in labour districts increased by 1,272 between Septem- ber, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased again by 1,117 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. If the total number of these natives available for labour districts be taken at the figure of September, 1904, i.e., 9,519, and the total number required by other employere in labour districts be taken at the figure of September, 1905, i.e., 9,818, it will be seen that not only are no natives at all of this class left for mines and works, but that there is a deficiency of 300 in the number required to meet the demands of othei' employers, which must be made up from other sources, presumably at the expense of mines and works. Natal and Zuhdand. — The total number of natives from these sources employed in labour districts was as follows : — September, 190*. April, 1905. September, 1905 14,924 20,052 19,916 This was divided as follows : September, 1904. 1 April, 1905. Mines and works Other employment 2,367 12,557 3,848 16,204 September, 1905. 3^75 56,541 It will be seen that the number of these natives employed on mines and works increased by 1,481 between September, 1904, and April, 1905^ and decreased by 473 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. The number employed at September, 1905, was 1,008 greater than that employed in September, 1904. The number in the service of other employers in labour districts increased by 3,647 between Septem- ber, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased again by 337 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. If the total number of these natives available for labour districts be taken at the figure of September, 1904, i.e., 14,924, and the total required by other employers in the labour districts be taken at the figure of September, 1905, i.e., 16,541, it will be seen that not only are none of these natives left for employ- ment on mines and works, but that there is a deficiency of 1,500 in the number required to meet the demands of other employers, which again has to be made up from other sources at the expense of mines and works. Transvaal. — The total number of Transvaal natives employed in labour districts for the three periods was as follows: — September, igOi. April, 1905. Sej:li3mber, 1905. 27,928 Tliis was divided as follows :- 41,353 36.002 September, 1904. 1 April. 1905. September, 1905. Mines and Works ... Other employment ... 9,167 18,761 17,327 24,026 10,526 25,476 It will be seen that the number of Transvaal natives employed on mmes and works increased by 8,160 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and diminished by 6,801 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. The number employed in September, 1905, was 1,359 greater than the number employed in September, 77 1904. The number of Transvaal natives in the service of other employers in labour districts increased by 5,265 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased again by 1,450 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. If the total number of Transvaal natives available for labour districts be taken at the figure of September, 1904, i.e., 27,928, and if the niunber required by other employers in labour districts be taken at the figure of September, 1905, i.e., 25,476, i^ will be seen that a balance of 2,500 only remains available for mines and works. Rhodesia. — The total number of natives from this source employed at the three periods was as follows: — September, 1901. April, 1005. September, 1905. 2,084 4,441 5,994 lliis was divided as follows: — Sept«mber, 1901. April. 1905. September, 190 Mines and works Other employment 1,426 058 3,668 773 5,172 822 It will be seen that the number of these natives employed on mines and works increased by 2,242 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased again by 1,504 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. The number employed at September, 1905, was 3,746 greater than the number employed in September, 1904. The number of these natives in the service of other employers in labour districts increased by 115 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased again by 49 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. This is one of the sources of labour not subject to the ordinary rules of competition, being practically closed to recruit- ing except on behalf of the mining industry. This accounts for the increase in the number of natives from this source employed on mines and works being constant during the period, and being unaccompanied by any corresponding increase in the number serving other employers within labour districts. Po7'tugiiese East Africa. — The number of natives from this source employed at the tliree periods was as follows : — September, 1901. 53,263 April, 1905. 59,995 September, 1905. 64,369 ibis was divided as follows :- September, 1901. April, 1905. September, 1905 Mines and works Other employment .. 47,246 6,017 54,172 5,823 58,288 6,081 It will be seen that the number of East Coast natives employed by mines and works increased by 6,926 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased again by 4,166 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. The number employed at September, 1905, was 11,042 greater than that employed at S^eptember, 1904. The number of East Coast natives in the service of other employers in labour districts diminished by 194 between September, 1904, and April, 1905, and increased by 258 between April, 1905, and September, 1905. This district also, for the reasons stated above, is not subject to the usual effects of competition in recruiting under present circumstances. The large increase in the number of these natives at work between September, 1904, and September, 1905, is probably to be explained as follows : — During the winter months of 1903, the 78 I'ecruiting system in I'ortuguese East Africa was re-organised, and exceptionally large numbers of natives were sent forward, with the result that the country was emptied, and that the numbers coming forward during the winter months of 1904, before the natives recruited in 1903 had time to return home and become available for service again, was unusually small. At the same tinie the number of natives completing their contracts and taking their discharge was large during the winter of 190-1:. The number left on the fields, therefore, in September, 1904, was lower than the average. By counter effect the number on the fields in September, 1905, is probably a little higher than the average, and may be expected to diminish. The full number of the natives normally available is probably not in excess of 60,000, including those in the service of other employers, and the number available for mines and works, under present conditions may be expected to vary from 48,000 to 58,000; a high total, like that at present on the fields, being followed by a low one next year, and so alternately. N.B. — In the above numbers of East Coast natives those coming from north of latitude 22° are not included. These are included amongst Central Africans. It is unnecessary to give here the figures of this class of native in detail, as there are practically none of them in the service of other employers. The total number of Central Africans employed on the fields, including British Central Africans and Northern Portuguese boys together was 5,857 in September, 1905, as against 4,357 in September, 1904. It will be noticed that there is the same tendency running through the recent history of all the classes of labour which are subject to free competition, i.e., labour coming from the Cape Colony, Natal, Zululand, Basutoland, Orange River Colony, and Transvaal. That tendency is as follows: — From September, 1904, up to April, of this year there was a great increase in the number of labourers in all these classes. This increase coincided with the general depression in trade and industry in other parts of South Africa. The increased numbers were divided between mines and works and other employers in labour districts. Since April, 1905, the number of labourers in all these classes has diminished, but the loss has fallen entirely on mines and works. Other employers in labour districts have apparently increased their demands for labour from these classes, and, owing to the higher wages paid, have been able to satisfy them. (1.) The following tables are attached: — Statement of natives employed in Transvaal labour districts monthly, from July, 1904, to September, 1905, showing [a) natives employed by membei^ of the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association ; {h) natives employed by other mines and works; and (c) natives employed by other employers. 2. Statement of the natives employed in labom^ districts of the Transvaal from July, 1904, to September, 1905, allowing the natives employed, {a) by members of the Association ; {b) by outside mines and works ; and (c) by other employers, divided according to the country of origin of the natives. F. Perry. Johannesburg, November 21, 1905. No. 41. Governor The EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received January 20, 1906.) (Extract.) Governor's Office, Johannesburg, December 30, .1905. I have the honour to inform you that the principal subject of political interest 79 during the past fortnight has, as was to be expected, been the decision of His Majesty's Government to prevent, as far as possible, the further importation of Chinese labourers, and the publication of your telegram* to me announcing this decision. I have already informed you by telegraph! that I am advised by the Attorney- General that the Lieutenant-Governor has no power to revoke licences already issued, and that, at the most, he can only prohibit the issue of fresh licences. If the labourers, for whose importation licences are already held by the various mining companies, are gradually brought into the Colony, in accordance with the terms of those licences, the gold mining industry will, I am informed, have sufficient labour to satisfy its present requirements, and to tide over the period which must elapse before the first meeting of a Representative Transvaal Legislature. I understand that the last of these labourers will, in the ordinary course, arrive in South Africa about October next. The enclosed report§ of the monthly address of the Chairman of the Chamber of Mines is interesting, as showing the efficacy of the steps which have been taken, under the Foreign Labour Importation Amendment Ordinance, in checking lawless acts committed by isolated bands of Chinese labourers. No. 42. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. My Lord, Downing Street, January 20, 1906. It would appear from the report printed at page 63 of the Parliamentary Paper |"Cd. 2401] that the numbers of natives on the Witwatersrand mines are usually at the lowest ebb in May, June, and July, and that in August, September, October, and November a considerable rise occurs. 2. I observe, however, that the numbers this year have been high in the period April to July, but have diminished very considerably in October and November. I shall be glad if you will obtain a report on this matter from the Native Affairs Department. 3. The report should deal with the effect on the labour supply of the rule recently introduced to recruit in certain parts of South Africa only for underground work and for a longer period. I have, &c., ELGIN. No. 43. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor Sir W. F. HELY-HUTCHINSON (Cape). •Sir, Downing Street, January 20, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram. No. 1, of the 12th of January,! transmitting a resolution passed at a meeting of members of the Africander Bond and others held at Cape Town on the 9th of January, stating tBat the policy of His Majesty's Government already outlined with regard to Chinese labour will in no way lead to dissatisfaction on the part of the Africander people. I have, &c., ELGIN. No. 4 in [Cd. 2788]. t No. 'J in [Cd. 2788]. J No. U. § Not printed. 80 No. 44. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 7.50 a.m., January 21, 1906.) Telegram. January 20. No. 3. In reply to your telegram, No. 1, of the 19th January;* a full report goes to you by this mail. ITiere is no legal difficulty about your suggestion, as Clause 14 of the contract provides that the labourer may at any time terminate his contract on tendering to the employer the expenses incurred in importing him together with sum sufficient for his repatriation. If the Government contributed the amount which the coolie him- self was unable to provide for these purposes, the employer could not refuse to accept it> and no new regulation is thus required. Practical difficulties, however, present a grave obstacle. The money required from Government funds would have to be voted by the Legislative Assembly, and it is most unlikely that the Assembly would vote it. The expenditure would not be large if only those coolies were repatriated who desired to return to China and remain there, but it would be serious if every coolie who wanted a short holiday could terminate his contract at Government expense, and afterwards engage again and return to the Rand in a fresh shipload. This is a real danger. Coolies repatri- ated for one cause or another are constantly trying to re-engage and return, and some have succeeded. It is very difficult to prevent this, and the elected representa- tives are well aware of the fact. Further, the Assembly would probably take the view that to allow a coolie dis- satisfied with the conditions of labonr to terminate his contract at the public expense would be to admit a very dangerous principle. The question would be asked why the principle should not equally apply^ to Portuguese natives, and, indeed, to many other persons under contract to remain in the Transvaal. Jaraieson tells me 198 coolies have so far purchased their discharge, and that in the case where coolies have not had the necessary funds his fellow-labourers have made it up by voluntary contributions. No case has occurred of coolies without sufficient funds applying for repatriation. Generally speaking Jamieson thinks 80' per cent, of coolies will be ready to renew their contracts at the end of three years. No. 45. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 8 p.m., January 23, 1906.) Telegram. January 23. No. 1. Referring to my telegram of 20th January, No. 3,* I have now procured some important additional figures from China. The exact position is as follows : The total mirnber of Chinese labourers who have been repatriated for one cause or another since importation of Chinese began is 1,956. Of these 1,233 have tried to re-engage at Chinwangtao, and have been prevented there. 222 have tried to re-engage at Chefoo, and have been prevented there. Of the balance of 500 a number estimated at 100 have succeeded in making their way back to the. Rand. This leaves only 400 unaccounted for, and these 400 include all who may have died after repatriation or have been in such a state of health as to make it use- less for them to attempt to re-engage. Even allowing for some of the repatriated labourers having made more than one attempt to re-engage, and thus being reckoned more than once each in the above figures, it is clear that the majority of the labourers who have been repatriated to China have tried to make their way back again to the Transvaal. No. 38. t No. 44. 81 No. 46. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 2.20 p.m., January 24, 1906.) Telegram. January 24. No. 1. Referring to my telegram, 21st December, No. 4,* official returns of white workmen in mines of Witwatersrand district in month of December show increase of 83. No. 47. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 2.57 p.m., January 24, 1906.) Telegram. January 24. No. 2. Referring to my telegram 21st December, No. 3,t total number of persons employed in gold mines of whole Transvaal on 31st December: white 18,159; coloured 93,831; Chinese 47,267. No. 48. Governor The EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 10.15 p.m., January 24, 1906.) Telegram. [See No. 61.] January 24. No. 3. Your telegram of 22nd January, No. 2.\ May I point out that my proposal in no degree prejudges question of continuation of importation of Chinese coolies. If elected Legislature decided against it probationers would be recalled and no expense would fall on His Majesty's Government. If it decides in favour and no probationers have been sent to China to be trained many months will have been lost. At present Inspectors are largely composed of military officers whom Army Council might recall at any time. Result might be most prejudicial to whole administration of Ordinance, and especially to the coolies, and all our efforts to provide at each mine a friend and protector who knows their language and is uncon- nected with mining companies will have been brought to naught. I cannot think tHat this is a risk we ought to run, considering that the proposal as I have said in no degree prejudges question. The expense would be borne by the Transvaal Govern- ment and not by the Chamber of Mines, so that body could extract no argument out of the dispatch of these probationers. A number of coolies are just arriving, or will shortly arrive, whose contracts will have three years to run. It will therefore in any case be necessary to have an adequate staff of Inspectors for 'the protection of these coolies. No. 49. Governor The EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL_0F ELGIN. (Received 4.20 p.m., January 25, 1906.) Telegram. January 25. No. 1. Your telegram, 6th January, No. 3.§ The following is tEe text of a new regulation which is about to be published on the subject of the engagement in every compoimd of a white official thoroughly conversant with the Chinese language, which, in my opinion, is sufficient to meet the case : — Begins: Whenever the Superintendent, after due and careful inquiry, is satisfied that the control over labourers on a mine is inefficient and that inefficiency is due to the absence of a European official co-jversant with the language of the labourers employed on such mine, he may require the employer, in writing, within a reasonable time to be agreed between them, • No. 18. t No. 17. % No. 1675. § No. 30. 23718 ^ 82 or, in the absence of such agreement, to be fixed by the Lieutenant- Governor, to engage the services of such a European official. Any employer refusing or neglecting to comply with such request within the period agreed on or fixed by the Lieutenant-Governor shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds for every day he is in default. Ends. No. 50. GOVERNOR THE EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received January 27, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 4, 1906. With reference to my despatch of the 4th December,* I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a statement for the month of November, 1905, of convictions and sentences on Chinese labourers. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. Enclosure in No. 50. Convictions and Sentences on Chinese Labourers, November, 1905. Number. Senteuce. Remarks. Crime— Assault. 4 1 1 10 1 1 1 3 1 4 2 3 4 2 8 o 48 10s. or seven days' hard labour £1 or seven days' har for November, 91 1905, of territorial analysis of natives holding passports and working in the labour districts of the Transvaal. I have^ &c., SELBORNE. Governor. Enclosure 1 in No. 54. Territorial Analysis of Natives holding Passports in Labour Districts. November 30, 1905. Territory. Basxitoland British Bechuanaland British Central Africa Cape Colony Natal and Zululand Orange River Colony East Coast Mozambique Quilimane Rhodesia Swaziland Transvaal Damaraland Others Portuguese Territory. Mines and Works. Other Employment. 2,773 833 3,165 7,610 3,429 246 a9,30S 1,977 775 4,193 1,083 9,542 599 170 95,703 6,019 1,296 345 17,155 15,829 4,245 6,111 901 1,464 25,018 13 363 78,759 Total. 8,792 2,129 3,510 24,765 19,258 4,491 68,171 5,094 2,547 34,560 612 533 174,462 Enclosure 2 in No. 54. Return of Natives Employed on Mines within Three Mile Radius of Johannesburg. November 30, 1905. Bonanza Crown Reef Crown Deep City and Suburban Ferreira Ferreira Deep Langlaagte Estate .. Langlaagte Deep Meyer and Charlton New Goch ... Robinson Robinson Deep Robinson Central Deep Carried forward 1,537 2,905 2,072 2,045 1,746 1,852 1,554 978 • ■ • 1,936 1,818 2,391 654 22,034 23718 M 2 92 Brought forward . 22,034 Robinson Clilorination Works ... 14 Salisbury and Jubilee 1,140 Village Main Reef 2,240 Village Deep 1,037 Wolhuter 767 Wemmer 1,282 City Deep 252 28,766 Enclosure ;j m No. 54. Natives Employed on Mines and Works in Labour Districts. November oO, 1905. Jolianneshurg: — City and Suburban 2,072 Henry Nourse 100 Jumpers 1,244 Jumpers Deep 739 Meyer and Charlton 978 New Goch 1,936 New Heriot 900 Nourse Deep 561 Treasury 911 Wolhuter 767 City Deep 252 Consolidated Langlaagte 222 Robinson 1,818 Robinson Chlorination Works 14 Bonanza 546 Langlaagte Estate 1,852 Crown Deep 2,905 Crown Reef 1,537 Langlaagte Deep 1,554 Robmson Central Deep . . . 654 Langlaagte Block "B" ... 4 Village Deep 1.037 Village Main Reef 2,240 Jubilee and Salisbury ... 1,140 Robinson Deep ... 2,391 Wemmer ... 1,282 Ferreira ... 2,045 Ferreira Deep 1,746 Average number of natives employed by contractors Germiston : — 2,874 May Consolidated 1,249 Knights Deep ... ... 2,074 Simmer and Jack East . . . . . 276 Knights Central 273 South Rose Deep • ■ • 650 Glencairn Main Reef ... 945 New Rietfontein Estate •■ 1,461 Carried forward ... 6,928 36,321 93 Brought forwarrl Witwatersrand G. M. C-o. Glen Deep Simmei- and Jack West Geldenhuis Deep Geldenhuis Estate Rose Deep Simmer and Jack Proprietary . . . Burham G. M. Co South Geldenhuis Deep Rand Victoria General Electric Power Company Dynamite Factory New Primrose ... ... ■ ... Geldenhuis Main Reef ... Orion Premier Brick Company Rex Brick and Tile Average number of natives employed contractors by 6,92S 770 25 250 876 1,341 861 410 73 494 266 55 817 1,245 2 292 56 34 1,324 (jersdorp : — Aurora West 55 Bantjes Consolidated ... 3 Consolidated Main Reef 1,929 Durban Roodepoort 1,076 Durban Roodepoort Deep 723 Main Reef West 208 New Unified 1,174 Princess Estate 61 Roodepoort 2 Roodepoort Central Deep 1,225 Roodepoort United Mam Reef 1,653 Saxon G. Mines ... 7 Vlakfontein Vogelstruis Consolidated Deep "' 244 Vogelstruis Estate 952 North Witwatersrand 101 Zuurbekom Waterworks 38 Champ d'Or 902 Frenc 1 Rand 27 Lancaster 1,064 Lancaster West ... 729 Luipaards Vlei 244 Midas Deep 2 New Rip 1 North Randfontein 53 Porges Randfontein 1,019 Randfontein Deep 282 Randfontein Deep Diamond Drill 12 Randfontein Estates (A) 1,818 Randfontein Estates (B) 281 Robinson Randfontein ... 1,077 South Randfontein 1,494 Tudor 12 West Rand Central 384 West Rand Mines 33 Windsor ... 532 York 2 16,119 Carried forward 19,419 94 Brought forward 19,419 Kroomdraai Lime Works 20 Nolans Lime Works 130 Sterkfontein 15 Average number of natives employed by contractoi-s 857 Heidelberg : — Nigel 1,048 Hex River Exploration Company 3 Coronation Syndicate 12 Nigel Deep 862 Houtpoort Syndicate Nigel Proprietary Mines 151 Sub Nigel 62 British Transvaal Mines 55 Soutli Rand Ex. ... 379 New Fortuna Colliery 45 Average number of natives employed by contractors 288 Klerksdorp : — Klerksdorp Gold and Diamond Company, Limited ... ... ... ... ... 384 Niekerk 35 BuflPelsdoorn Estate and Gold Mines ... 79 Klerksdorp Proprietary Mines 7 Eastleigh Mines ... 5 Afrikander Proprietary Mines ... 112 Rietkuil Gold Mines 1 Elandslaagte Mine 181 West Bonanza 52 Buffelsdoorn Consolidated 1 Average number of natives employed by contractor 27 Pretoria: — Premier ... 3,172 Pretoria District Diamond Mining Company... 303 Montrose 205 Pretoria Oriental 4 Schuller 1 Kaalfontein 2 Edendale Estates 127 Average number of natives employed by contractors 306 Middelbiirg : — Witbank Colliery 857 Transvaal and Delagoa Bay Collieiy 968 Coronation Colliery 530 Middelburg Steam Coal and Coke 308 Landau Colliery 476 Premier Coal Estates 202 Anglo-French Colliery ... 90 Douglas Colliery 181 Crown Colliery ... 125 Home Coal and Potteries 60 20,441 2,905 854 4,120 3,707 95 Vereeniging : — • Vereeniging Estates 745 Vereeniging Briclv and Tile 196 Bokshurg : — Angelo Deep • . . • . • ... 514 Cinderella Deep ... ... ... 190 Driefontein Deep 382 East Rand Extension 365 East Rand Proprietary Mines ... 6,236 Ginsberg 1,037 Wit Deep ... 317 Van Dyk Proprietary 173 Consolidated Brick and Potteries 128 New Transvaal Chemical 144 Balmoral Kleinfontein Group " 1,405 New Modderfontein ... ... • . . 49 Van Ryn 537 Apex ... ... ... 684 Brakpan Colliery 579 Rand Central Electric Works '.'.'. '.'.'. 129 Rand Collieries ... 12 Brakpan Mines 318 Western Kleinfontein 26 Average number of natives employed 3y contractors . . . 2,211 Springs : — Geduld Proprietary ... ... ... 16 Clydesdale Colliery 436 Tyne Valley Colliery — 264 Great Eastern 735 De Rietfontein ... 608 East Rand Gold and C oal 192 Cassel Coal 2 Cloverfield Gold Mine 250 Welgedacht Exp. ... 153 Total number of natives on mines and works exclusive of natives employed by contractors 941 15,436 2,656 Grand Total 103,590 Total average number of natives employed by contractors 7,88Y 95,703 No. 55. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor The EARL OF SELEORNE. (Sent 12.45 p.m., January 30, 1906.) Telegram. [Answered by No. 59.] January 30. No. 1. Your telegram. No. 1, 25tli January.* Please state on * No. 49. 96 how many mines your rule is in force that there should be at least one white official thoroughly conversant with the Chinese language. No. 56. Governor The EARL OF SEL BORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 9.30 p.m., February 1, 1906.) Telegram. February 1. No. 5. Your telegram of 13th January, No. 1.* Eleven Inspectors will be sufficient. So far there are only eight, but Jamieson feels con- vinced that with addition of Ruxton and Macandrew he can attain the object in view. At present every mine is visited at least twice a week, some more often, as occasion may require. With regard to eleventh Inspector rather than find himself saddled with incom- petent man Jamieson would prefer to wait until he heard of one fully qualified, and seeing that most of new coolies will be distributed amongst mines on which present system is understood, no serious results may be apprehended as consequences of delay. Jamieson suggests that His Majesty's Mfnister, Peking, might therefore again be approached with request to forward names of any men who have come to Chinese Secretary's notice since last list was sent in. No. 57. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received Februarj- 3, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 15, 1906. With reference to my despatch of 6th January t and previous corre- spondence, I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of the enclosed document on the subject of Mr. Boland's allegations regarding ill-treatment of Chinese labourers on the Nourse Deep, Limited. 2. In explanation of Mr. McCarthy's letter, I should state that: on receipt of the information contained in my despatch of 20th November,^ I caused to be conveyed to the authorities of the Nourse Deep Mine an expression of my strong disapproval of the conduct of Mr. McCarthy in not at once reporting to the proper authorities the outrage committed by Mr. Pless, which outrage I assumed that Mr. McCarthy was powerless to prevent. I have, &c., SELBORNE. Governor. Enclosure in No. 57. Secretary, Foreign Labour Department, Johannesburg, to Private Secretary to Governor. The Private Secretary to Foreign Labour Department, the Governor, Johannesburg, January 13, 1906. With reference to previous correspondence on the allegations of ill-treatment » No. 35. t No. 52. t No. 14. of Chinese coolies, made by Mr. F. C. Boland and Mr. Mackarness, I am directed to forward, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, copy of a letter, dated 5th December, from the Secretary of the Nourse Deep, Limited. George Wolfe-Murray, Secretary. Nourse Deep., Limited, The Corner House, Johannesburg, December 5, 1905. Treatment of Chinese Labourers. Sir, With reference to your letter of the 23rd ultimo, addressed to the General Manager, and to Mr. A. J. McCarthy's affidavit forwarded to you in my letter of 17th ultimo, I beg to advise that your remarks were foi^warded to the Manager, and I am now instructed to send you herewith copy of a letter, dated 1st instant, addressed to the Acting Manager of the mine, by Mr. McCarthy. Tlie Superintendent, Foreign Labour Department, P.O. Bos 201, Jeppes. I have, &c.. Secretary. Letter dated December 1, 1905, from A. J. McCarthy, c/o Nourse Deep, Limited, on the subject of " Treatment of Chinese Labourers." Dear Sir, With reference to the criticism of my action by the Superintendent of the P'oreign Labour Department, in connection w^itli the tying up incident, upon which I made an affidavit, dated the 15th November, 1905, I desire to say that I had no official right to do more than earnestly remonstrate with Mr. Fless on his conduct. After the incident I naturally considered it my duty to inform the Manager, but, on thinking the matter over, the idea was repugnant to me, as, having recently acquired my present position, my action would indicate me as a spy to my fellow officials apd as one who curries favour with the Manager to the detriment of the man in whose private house I was boarding. After reading the mis-statements contained in Mr. Boland's letter, which letter I have no doubt was inspired by Mr. Pless, I then considered that it was my duty to lay before the Acting Manager my evidence as to the personality of Mr. Pless. Yours, &c., A. J. McCarthy. The Acting Manager, Nourse Deep, Limited. No. 58. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 6.44 p.m., February 3, 1906.) Telegram. (Extract.) February 3. No. 3. An interesting and significant great public meeting was held in Johannesburg on Thursday to protest against the calumnious reflections cast N 23718 98 against the Witwatersrand community anent the treatment of the Chinese coolies. The Mayor, who has been always opposed to Chinese labour on principle, presided, and leading members of the Responsible Government party as well as of the Pro- gressive party supported him. The strength of feeling which I have reported to you on this subject was fully manifested and I am given to say (sic) that the resolutions included one demanding a public inquiry by an impartial Commission into the treat- ment of the Chinese. As was to be expected thoSe who are opposed to Chinese labour, although repudiating the calumnies, take opportunity of saying so; one man indeed said he could ( ? give) information as to the ill-treatment of Chinese. Of course I took him at his word and sent the Superintendent of Foreign Labour next day to ask him to place his information af the disposal of the Attorney-General. I have not yet heard the result. No. 59. Governor the EAEL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received 1.20 p.m., February 5, 1906.) Telegram. February 5. No. 2. Your telegram, January 30, No. 1.* Out of 37 mines employing Chinese there are 27 in which Chinese-speaking white men are employed Regulation just passed gives Lieutenant-Governor full powers in this matter.t No. 60. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. (Sent 6.5 p.m., February 5, 1906.) Telegram. February 5. No. 1. Your despatch, 8th January,^ paragraph 2. I am advised that Attorney-General has misread main clause of contract, which should be inter- preted as reading : " Shall there work in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Importation Ordinance 1904." Contracts should be altered as directed in my telegram 28th December, No. 2.§ Clause 5 should be altered to agree with regulation No. 24, page 7, Cd. 2183. No. 61. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. (Sent 11 a.m., February 8, 1906.) Telegram. February 8. No. 1. Your telegram. No. 3, 24th January.|| Even if proposal does not prejudge question His Majesty's Government prefer not to take any steps which might be construed as giving countenance to continuance of importation. As a matter of fact there is little probability of War Office recalling Inspectors even at end of year's engagement, and it is possible to obtain othere similarly. In any case cannot learn until April whether Minister at Peking can arrange as requested. * No. 55. t See Appendix No. VI. + No. 53. § No. 22. || No. 48. 99 No. 62. COLONIAL OFFICE to Mr. C. H. NORMAN. Sir, Downing Street, February 10, 1906. With reference to my letter of the 8th of December,* I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to transmit to you copies of two Governor, 20th November. despatches f from the Governor of the Trans- Governor. 6th January, f '. , „ . £ -ll . . . vaal reporting on the allegation ot ill-treatment of Chinese coolies made by Mr. Boland in an article published in the " Morning Leader " of the 6th of September. 2. Lord Selborne has now informed Lord Elgin that no prosecution has been instituted, or is about to be instituted, in connection with any of the charges made by Mr. Boland, as it is impossible to obtain sufficient evidence on which a particular charge can be brought against any particular person on such general charges as those contained in Mr. Boland's article. The information obtained in connection with them which is contained in the despatches copies of which are now forwarded to you does not appear to the Law Officers of the Transvaal to furnish ground for a prosecution. I am, &c., FRED. GRAHAM. No. 63. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to the EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 10, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 22, 1906. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Secretary to the Transvaal Chamber of Mines enclosing a memo- randum prepared by the Chamber on the effects which would follow from arresting the importation of Chinese labour into the Transvaal. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. Enclosure in No. 63. Secretary, Transvaal Chamber of Mines, to Governor. Sir, Transvaal Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, January 16, 1906. I HAVE the honour, by direction of my Executive Committee, to transmit to His Excellency a Memorandum prepared by the Chamber on the effect of arresting the importation of Chinese labour. I have, &c., J. CowiE, Secretary. The Private Secretary to His Excellency the Right Honourable The Earl of Selborne, P.C, G.C.M.G., Governor of the Transvaal, Johannesburg. * No. 13. t Nos. U and 52. 23718 N 2 1(10 The despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies to His Excellency the Governor, published on the 23rd December, has naturally received the careful attention of the Executive Committee of the Chamber. The despatch taken in conjunction with the telegraphic correspondence between the Secretary of State and His Excellency since published, and with many statements made before and since by responsible members of His Majesty's Government shows unmistakably that His Majesty's Government are opposed to the system under which Chinese are being imported into the Transvaal under indenture as unskilled labourers for the mines, that they would have been disposed to cancel the licences already granted for further importation, and that they have taken, or will take, measures to prevent the issue of fresh licences for coolie labourers, required either for the further expansion of the industry or for making up wastage resulting from death or repatriation of coolies or from a decrease in the supply of Kaffir labour, pending a direct expression of opinion on the subject by the people of this Colony, such expression of opinion to be obtained through an elective legislature. It appears, therefore, to the Committee, that in the interests of the vast numter of shareholders wdio are the owners of the mines, of the community of Johannes- burg, and of South Africa in general, it should be show^n by means of indisputable figures to what extent the gold mining industry is to-day dependent on Chinese labour, and what the consequences of arresting its importation would be. At the 31st December last tnere were on the Rand in the employ of companies, members of the "Witwatersrand Native Labour Association (including collieries) and Chamber of IMines Labour Importation Agency, 87,673 natives and 47,217 coolies. In addition, there are on the water 1,947 coolies. Definite arrangements have been made by the Labour Importation Agency for the importation under licence of 9,878, licences have been granted for 3,000 more, and applications, for which licences have not yet been granted, have been received in respect of further 1,267. The exact position is, therefore, as follows : — Kaffirs employed ... ... ... ... ... ... 87,673 Coolies on the Band 47,217 Coolies on the water ... ... ... ... ... 1,947 Coolies licensed and definitely arranged for by the Labour Importation Agency ... ... ... 9,878 Coolies licensed but not definitely arranged for by the Labour Importation Agency ... ... ... 3,000 Coolies applied for but not licensed 1,267 It is difficult to specify exactly the share which must be attributed to the Chinese in the results now being obtained from the mines and in the progress of their development, seeing that on numerous mines both Chinese and Kaffir labour is employed in varying proportions. It is, however, obvious, from the figures above quoted, that more than one-third of the entire industry is to-day absolutely dependent on Chinese labour. It is now generally admitted that having regard to native conditions in South Africa, it is hopeless for many }^ears to come to expect any appreciable and constant increase in the number of Kaffir labourers available for work on the mines. Since its formation in 1901 the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association has spent on recruiting operations just £1,000,000, of which £274,619 18s. 3d. was spent during 1905, and to-day its members are employing natives reeruited from the Transvaal, Cape Colony, Basutoland, the Province of Mozambique, Zambesia, British Central Africa, North-Western Rhodesia, Nyassaland, and German South-West Africa, the proportion of Portuguese natives employed being now 68 per cent. The average numbers of natives employed by members since the war are as follows : — July to December, 1902 January to June, 1903 July to December, 1903 January to June, 1904 July to December, 1904 January to June, 1905 July, 1905 44,364 58,662 71,589 75.899 76,515 97,948 97,454 101 August, 1905 94,563 September, 1905 91,686 October, 1905 90,292 November, 1905 89,549 December, 1905 87,673 July to December, 1905 91,869 It will be seen that the highest average results obtained were for the period January to June, 1905. It is now recognised that this was due to a large influx of natives from certain districts which do not as a rule supply much labour for the mines. The general depression throughout British South Africa resulting from the stagnation of the mining industry, owing to scarcity of labour in 1903 and 1904, led to widespread retrenchment in public and private enterprise. The natives thus finding their ordinary fields of employment closed, and having at the same time to face unusuallv bad harvests, were obliged to come to the mines for work. These exceptional circumstances having to a great extent passed away, these natives are now leaving the mines. The effect is seen in the returns for the last six months, given above, and it is by no means certain that the reflux is yet at an end. Moreover, the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association is at present wholly unable to meet the requisitions of its members. As the gold mining industry progresses so does the white population increase, and so do other industries spring up and expand. The consequence is an ever- increasing demand for labour, the seriousness of which is indicated by : — Complaints of scarcity of labour made by farmers to His Excellency the Governor during his recent journeys, e.g., at Blaauwbank, on December 6th, and Heidelberg, 5th December, 1905, and the difficulty in obtaining native labour experienced by the diamond mining and other industries, where higher wages are offered, and the work is lighter than on the gold mines (see Chairman's speech at the annual general meeting of De Beers Consolidated Mines, Limited, held at Kimberley, on 24th November last). Confirmation is thus afforded to the conclusion arrived at by the Transvaal Labour Commission in November, 1903, that the expansion of South African industries has far out-stripped the labour supply. The Committee are, therefore, forced to the conclusion that there is no justifica- tion for expecting that the normal supply of Kaffir labour can be kept at a higher figure than the present, viz., 87,673, or, excluding those employed on collieries, 79,484; more especially as from the official telegraphic correspondence above referred to, it may be inferred that there is at least a possibility of recruiting in tropical areas, from which natives are now drawn in the summer months, being totally arrested, a step which would mean to the industry an actual loss of more than 10,000 natives. The Committee have, therefore, invited the various mining groups to supply figures showing the effect on the undertakings under their control which would be produced by the limitation of the supply of unskilled labour to the number of Kaffirs and coolies at present available. Detailed replies have been received from the following groups, which practically represent the entire gold mining industry of the Band : — Messrs. H. Eckstein and Co., and the Rand Mines, Limited; The Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, Limited; Messrs. A. Goerz & Co., Limited; Messrs. S. Neumann & Co. ; The Johannesburg Consolidated Investment, Co. Limited; The East Rand Proprietary Mines, Limited, and the Kleinfontein Group ; The General Mining and Finance Corporation, Limited; The Transvaal Gold Fields, Limited; and J. B. Robinson. From the replies it is found that : — 1. The number of stamps, the erection of which is in immediate contempla- tion, if more labour is available during the next twelve months, but 102 orders for which will not be given if no Chinese in addition to those already sanctioned a,re allowed to be imported, is 3,740. 'Note. — The time occupied by the preparations necessary to bring these stamps into full operation will vary from one year to three years. 2. The value of plant and machinery incidental thereto is £10,103,207. 3. The value o'f the spare parts of machinery, stores and supplies which would be required in connection with the above during the first year after the completion of the programme is, in addition, £2,180,661. 4. The number of additional European skilled labourers who would find em- ployment in the event of the programme contained under heads 1, 2, and 3, being carried out, but whose services would not be required if the importation of coolies were arrested, 5,912. 5. The local expenditure per annum by the various groups entailed by the carrying out of this programme, but which would not be incurred if, owing to the arrest of importation the programme were abandoned, £5,918,424. The above figures indicate the loss to the industry, to manufactures of machinery, and to the community in general, which would be entailed by the aban- donment of work for which the mining groups have made preparation and provision in the expectation that a steady supply of coolie labour would be available to meet the demand arising from the continuous expansion of the industry. The Committee have also invited information from the mining groups as to the efi'ect on existing undertakings which would be produced by the suspension of all further importation of Chinese, and by the repatriation at the expiry of their contracts of the coolies who are, or will be within the next few months, at work upon the Rand. As under such circumstances more than one-third of the existing supply of unskilled labour would be withdrawn, it would obviously be impossible to carry on operations on anything like the same scale as at present. Work would inevitably be concentrated by each group on the properties from which the best results could be obtained, and operations on the remaining properties would accordingly be perforce suspended. The effects which would be thus produced are summarised in the following figures, which have been supplied by the groups above mentioned : — A. The number of stamps now running which would be hung up owing to certain companies having to suspend operations in order to allow of others on which work would Be concentrated running their mills to fully capacity is 3,135. B. The value of plant and machinery incidental to such 3,135 stamps is £11,235,756. Note. The difference in the average value per stamp of these 3,135, and of the 3,740 stamps referred to in paragraph 1, is due to the fact that the former figure includes a large number of stamps to be added to existing mills already provided with power plants and other appliances. C. The number of skilled Europeans who would have to be dismissed through the necessary concentration of work and consequent hanging up of stamps and suspension of development operations is 6,405. D. The amount of local expenditure per annum which would cease to be incurred owing to concentration of work and consequent hanging up of stamps and suspension of development operations is £6,636,327. The Committee further desire to point out that the output of gold for the month of December from the mines of the Transvaal, amounting to 431,594 ounces, of a value of £1,833,295, was produced by the operation of 7,335 stamps, and that the hanging up of 3,135 stamps, as above mentioned, would reduce the output by approximately 40 per cent. lo:} The Committee trust that the figures quoted in this memorandum, which are as accurate as it is possible for any estimate to be, and wliich speak for themselves, will afford matter for the earnest consideration of all who are disposed to think that Chinese labour is not of vital importance to the industry and to South Africa. Transvaal Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, January 15, 1906. No. 64. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 10, 1906.) Mt Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 22, 1906. I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Secretary to the Transvaal Chamber of Mines which will make clear to you the views held by the Chamber upon the correspondence which has recently been published with regard to the decision of His Majesty's Government as to the further importation of Chinese labour into the Transvaal. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. Enclosure in No. 64. Secretary, Transvaal Chamber of Mines, to Governor. Transvaal Chamber of Mines, Johannesburg, Sm, January 15, 1906. I have the honour to inform His Excellency that a special meeting of the Executive Committee of this Chamber was held to-day to eonsider the telegraphic correspondence between His Excellency and the Secretary of State for the Colonies on the subject of indentured Chinese labour which appeared in the local press on the l2th and 13th instants. My Committee note with satisfaction that His Majesty's Government have acknowledged the validity of licences to import labourers already signed by His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor. My Committee, while agreeing that Chinese labour was permitted as a supple- ment to, and not as a substitute for, Kaffu' labour, must respectfully decline to admit that the estimates of the labour requirements of the mining industry by Mr. W. Evans, the late Superintendent of the Foreign Labour Department, which were made up in February, 1904, are applicable at this date, and they desire to re-affirm the principle that the requirements of the industry as regards Chinese indentured laboui' must be dependent on the expansion of the industry, and on the amount of native labour from time to time available. They would point out, in this connection, that since April last the native labour supply has very considerably decreased, and they cannot, in any way, admit that the number of natives on the Rand before the war can be taken as the standard of the amount of unskilled labour required. With regard to the Secretary of State's telegram. No. 1, of the 15th December, 1905, in which he comments on a telegram despatched by his predeeessor in office on 27th October, 1905, to the effect that " it would be good policy for the mine- owners voluntarily to stop importation for the next six months," my Committee can only regard the telegram in question as a mere expression of opinion on the part of the late Colonial Secretary, in which, owing to the great demand for labour, it would be impossible for them to acquiesce. lUl As regards thos* puits of His Excellency's telegiaiii, No. 2, of January 1st, 1906, and the Secretaiy of State's telegram, No. 2, of. January 5th, 1906, which refer to His Excellency's expression of opinion that " if His Majesty's Government allowed the licences already issued to stand, their decision that no fresh ones are to be issued till the opinions of the elected representatives of the people can be taken next July will be loyally accepted, and there will be no feeling of injustice," my Committee, in view of the serious effect on the industry which any prolongation of the present uncertainty as to the continuance of coolie importation will undoubtedly produce, trust that His Majesty's Government will recognise the extreme importance of tak- ing without delay the steps necessary to enable the people of this Colony to immedi- ately settle this all important matter. My Committee respectfully recjuest His Excellency to convey the substance of this communication to His Majesty's Government. I have, &c., J. CowiE, The Private Secretaiy to Secretary. His Excellency the Right Honourable The Earl of Selborne, P.C, G.C.M.G., Governor of the Transvaal, Johannesburg. No. 65. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 10, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 22. 1906 With reference to my despatch of to-day's date,* I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Johan- nesburg Chamber of Trade on the subject of the possible restriction of the importa- tion and employment of Chinese labourers. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. Enclosure in No. 65. Secretary, Johannesburg Chamber of Trade, to High Commissioner. Johannesburg Chamber of Trade (Incorporated), Johannesburg, January 16, 1906. Re Chinese Indentiu'ed Labour. Your Excellency, By direction of my Executive Committee, I have the honour to submit to you the following resolution which was unanimously passed at a General Meeting of Members of this Chamber, held to-day: — " That this meeting of members of the Johannesburg Chamber of Trade, being absolutely convinced of the beneficial results accruing from the import- ation of Chinese indentured labour, views with grave alarm any possible restrictions to the importation and the employment of Chinese in this Colony." I am instructed to ask that the purport of the resolution may be communicated to His Majesty's Government. I have, &c., E. C. Lowe, His Excellency Secretary. The High Commissioner for South Africa, Johannesburg. No. 64 lOo No. 6G. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 10, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 22, 1906. With reference to my despatch of to-day's date,* I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of a letter from Secretaries of the Krugers- dorp and District Chamber of Commerce, on the subject of Chinese labour. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. Enclosure in No. 66. Secretaries, Krugersdorp and District Chamber of Commerce, to Governor. Krugersdorp and District Chamber of Commerce, Your Excellency, Box 7, Krugersdorp, January 19, 1906. We are instructed to forward you the following resolution, which was unani- mously passed at a General Meeting of the Krugersdorp and District Chamber of Commerce, held here on the 15th instant: — " That this Chamber is of opinion that imported unskilled labour is absolutely essential to the welfare of the mining industry and the country at large, and that it strongly protests against the misrepresentation and calum- nies urged by party politicans in Great Britain with reference to the Chinese labour." We are, &c., Sheppard and Leche, Secretaries. His Excellency Lord Selborne, Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony, High Commissioner of South Africa. No. 67. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 10, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 22, 1906. In ' your telegram of the 5th January, 1906, No. 4,t you refer to the statement in my despatch of the 18th September, 1905,^ that some of the Chinese did not understand what was entailed by "mining labour," and that they are undoubtedly disappointed and will not be likely to re-engage. You drew my attention to the importance of affording no ground for the allegation that Chmese are detained against their will in the Transvaal solely because they have not the money necessary to secure repatriation under Clause XIV. of their contracts, and you directed me to consider whether it would not be possible to frame regulations, somewhat on the lines of Clause VII. of the Labour Importation Ordmance, pro- viding that the Lieutenant-Governor might, on being satisfied by the Supermtendent of Foreign Labour that a coolie, who had applied to be repatriated, did not possess • No. 65. t No. 28. t No. 25 in [Cd. 2786]. 23718 106 the necessary funds, call upon the importers to repatriate him, the Government making up to them the amount which the coolie was unable to provide himself, and further to inform you how such a regulation would be received, and to what extent advantage would be hkely to be taken of it, and to consider how funds could be provided to give effect to it. 2. Regarded abstractedly, the suggestion is one for which I think there is much to be said. At any rate, personally, I feel that, if it were practicable, it would be a great relief to me. I am convinced that comparatively few of the coolies have any wish to be lepatriated ; others in England think differently. I should like to put our opinions to the test. There are, however, practical objections to the proposal, which I shall proceed to state. 3. Immediately on receiving your telegram* I consulted Sir Richard Solomon, the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of the Transvaal, and he has pointed out to me that, although compulsory repatriation of Chinese labourers is provided for in certain cases specifically mentioned in the Labour Importation Ordinance, 1904 (Section 26), and in the Amending Ordinance, 1905 (Section 7), it is quite clear that the power to repatriate compulsorily cannot be extended by regulation. On the other hand, he added that voluntary repatriation, that is repa'tiiation at the request of the labourer, involves the determination of the contract between him and his employer, and unless provided for in that contract can only be made with the consent of the employer in each particular case. Further, he showed me that the object of His Majesty's Govern- ment could be carried out without regulation in a manner to which the employer could not object. The contract provides (Clause 14) " that any labourer may at any tune terminate his contract, without assigning any reason, on tendering to the said CD. (the employer) the expenses incurred in introducing him and his wife and children into the Transvaal, together with a sum sufficient to defray the expenditure necessary in returning them to the port at which the labourer embarked." It is not necessary for the purposes of this clause that the labourer himself should tender out of his own pocket the expenses referred to. As far as the employer is concerned they may be tendered by the Government on behalf of the labourer out of public funds, but the Government must justify this expenditure to the public. It would naturally be paid out of the public revenue and would have to appear on the estimates and be voted by the Legislative Assembly. 4. Sir Richard Solomon does not see any necessity for consulting the Chamber of Mines because, if such a policy is adopted, it can only be adopted with the approval of the people of the Transvaal, whose representatives would have to vote the neces- sary money for the purpose, and he gravely doubts whether the representatives of the people would consent to the Government 'making a practice of purchasing the discharges of coolies recruited to work in the mines merely because they have not the funds to purchase their own discharges as they contracted to do. He thinks that there may be exceptional cases in which it would be reasonable for the Government to incur this expenditure, but they ought to be cases recommended by the Superin- tendent and approved by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. 5. My comments on these observations are as follows: — (a.) I do not believe that the Government would, by the policy proposed, be involved in any large expenditure if only those coolies were repatriated under it who really desired to return to China and to remain there. But I do fear that the expenditure might be large for a very different reason, which I shall presently proceed to state. I must also point out that it would be contrary to human nature if, after the Government had once imdertaken this lial)ility, any coolie, who desired to be re- patriated, disclosed that he possessed any savings available for the purpose. (6.) I entirely agree with Sir Richard Solomon, that the public would scrutinise this expenditure very carefully, and that an elected Legislature would be unlikely to vote it. ? 107 (c.) The representatives of the jieople would be unlikely to vote this expendi- ture because they would say : " where is the application of this principle likely to lead us? If it is to be applied to a Chinese coolie, who has made a contract fiom which he wishes to be released, how shall we know that we shall not be called upon to apply it in the case of the native from the Portuguese territories, who has made a similar con- tract and who also desires to be released from it at the pubHc expense 1 Or how, indeed, if we establish this principle in favour of Chinese and Portuguese natives, can we refuse to apply the same principle to our own fellow-countrymen, who, for instance, in the Sonth African Con- stabulary or the Army, may have entered into a contract, binding them to remain for a certain number of years ii: the Transvaal, who now find that they do not like service in the Transvaal, who have not the money at their command with which to purchase immediately their dis- charges, but who would say that they have at least as much right to be released from their contracts at the public expense and to be re- turned to England as a Chinese coolie has to be released from his con- tract at the public expense and returned to China, or a Portuguese native to be released from his contract at the public expense and returned to Mozambique r' Again, they would raise the following objection; it is one which has strongly forced itself upon my attention, and it is the one which I have already said I will state to you. The representa- tives of the people would ask, "what is to prevent a Chinese coolie, who is quite contented with his employment and, in fact, well satisfied with it, but who would like a short holiday in China at the public expense, demanding to be repatriated on the grounds suggested by His Majesty's Government, with the intention of returning to theWitwatersrand, m a fresh ship-load of indentured coolies directly he has spent his savings and enjoyed his holiday?" That this is no imaginary danger, the fol- lowing facts will show": One coolie, who had purchased his discharge, and 22, who had been repatriated on account of physical infirmities, have already returned to South Africa in fresh ship-loads of indentured coolies. These men were actually recognised at the Durban depot, but it has since been ascertained that there are a number of other coolies who have been repatriated once already from one cause or another, who have also returned, and also, not having been identified at Durban when they landed a second time, are now actually again working on the mines of the Witwatersrand. Further, the Superintendent of Foreign Labour is in great difficulties in connection with 'this very subject He has been informed bv the Foieign Labour Importation Agency that their agents in China find that number of repatriated coolies are seeking to return to the Tran.svaal. If thev are recoo-nised and fail to be re- engaged at the poit fiom which thev originall\- embarked, they forthwith proceed to another port of embarkation in the hope that they will not be recognised there and will be re-engaged. It was with a view to checking this movement that I asked your permission for instructions to be sent to our Minister at Pekin, directing him to ask the Chinese provincial authorities to keep an eye on repatriated coolies so as to prevent their return. 6. The Superintendent of Foreign Labour expresses the opinion that the high sense of the binding nature of a written contract entertained by the Chinese^ would, in the nature of things, deter any coolie from expressing a desire to break his con- tract, and he states that no case of a coolie not possessing the necessary funds where- with to purchase his discharge, applying for repatriation has come to his notice. Further, he informs me that coolies who, through their own bad behaviour, gambling and the like, have got into disgrace on the mine on which they live often apply to him for a transfer to some other mine, that from the date of the first arrival of the coolies to the 31st December, 1905, 198 labourers have purchased their discharge, and that in the case where a coolie has not had the necessary funds for the purpose the amount has been made up for him by means of voluntary contributions on the paiit of his fellow-workers. In his opinion it would be inexpedient to introduce any modi- O 2 2S71H 108 fication of the existing conditions of the contract. Spealiing generally, the Superin- tendent is inclined to think that 80 per cent, of the coolies on the Rand will be prepared to renew their agreements at the end of their three years' indenture. 7. For these reasons, I regret to say that I do not think that the suggestion con- tained in your telegram of the 5th January, 1906,* is one to which practical effect c^n be given. I, however, associate myself entirely with the suggestion made by Sir Richard Solomon, as reported in the last sentence of paragraph 4 of this ■despatch. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. No. 68. The earl OF ELGIN to Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE. (Sent 6.53 p.m., February 16, 1906.) Telegram. February 16. No. 2. Your despatch, 22nd January, f I observe that it is stated by the Chamber of Mines that for many years to come it is hopeless to expect any appreciable and constant increase in the number of Kaffir labourers for the mines, and they proceed to cite figures and facts according to which confirmation is afforded to the conclusion arrived at by the Transvaal Labour Commission, 1903, that the expansion of South AMcan industries has far oiitstripped the labour supply. The finding of the majority of Commission referred to was that the mines of the Witwatersrand alone would require within the next five years, that is to say, by the end of 1908, a supply of 196,000 labourers in addition to the 129,000 labourers in respect to which demand of the Transvaal mining industry at that time was in excess of the existing supply. This would involve an additional supply of about 250,000 labourei-s beyond present figures, all of which apparently must be drawn from China or some other external source seeing that practically maximum of supply from South African sources has been reached. No such numbers had been contemplated by His Majesty's late Government, by whom the introduction of Chinese labourers was from the outset regarded as of an experimental and not of an unlimited or permanent character. The statement of the Chamber of Mines proceeds to give figures as to the number of stamps the erection of which is in immediate contemplation if more labour is available during the next 12 months. The number given is 3,740, which at 15 labourers per stamp would involve the introduction of 56,100. But in a note it is added that the time occupied by preparation necessary to bring these stamps into full operation will vary from one year to three years. If the average time is taken at two years, it would appear that at the most 85,000 labourers will be requii^ed within three years, a number representing a third of the requirements as stated by the Labour Commission of 1903: thus the mining industry would seem to have now abated their demands of 1903 by about two-thirds. Some explanation of this result is afforded by a statement| of the mining engineers presented to Mr. Chamberlain in January, 1903, containing an exhibit^ of projected capital expenditure for five years, which was on a scale representing 5,000 to 6,000 stamps in addition to the stamps then ei-ected, 6,325. • No. 28. t No. 63. + Appendix I in Cd. 1895. § See Appendix No. VII. 109 Such a number of additional stamps would have represented at 15 coloured labourers per stamp an additional supply of 75,000 to 90,000. With regard to this exhibit, however, the mining engineers stated: * " Exhibit 10 has been prepared to give some idea of the engineers' anti- cipations regarding the possible extension of the industry in the event of abundant labour supply and other favourable conditions; and this must be regarded as a very optunistic estimate, as it is based on ideal conditions. " This statement should be received with great reserve, as it is based on hopes founded on suppositions difficult of fulfilment ; but it at least gives the possible achievements attendant on the successful efforts of investor, engineer, and miner, coupled with fostering care and aid from Government, and the right solution of the present labour difficulties." The present statement of the Chamber of Mines then continues to record what the effect would be of the withdrawal of more than a third of the existing supply of unskilled Labourers. It points out that 3,135 stamps would be hung up, 6,405 skilled Europeans dismissed, and the output of gold reduced by 40 per cent., owing to the fact that work would be concentrated on the properties from which the best results could be attained. The statement tacitly assumes that there are no other possibilities of retrieving the position with a limited labour supply, and takes no account of the ability of the industry, under pressure of circumstances and with a view to satisfying shareholders desiring some return for their investment, to introduce labour-saving appliances, to promote greater efficiency, to improve organisation, and to develope all those expedients to which the resourcefulness and energy of such an industry would have to resort in other countries where mining is conducted with a limited labour supply, and often with white labour only. Apart, therefore, from the difficulty of reconciling the estimates of future require- ments as set forth in 1903 and 1906, His Majesty's Government cannot take it for granted that a third of the mines now working would lie idle as a consequence of the repatriation of the Chinese labourers at the expiry of their contracts. No. 69. Governor the EARL OF SELBORNE to THe EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 17, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 29, 1906. With reference to my despatch of the 27th November, 1905, t I have the honour to forward, for Your Lordship's information, a comparative statement of mortality amongst natives employed on mines in labour districts. 2. I should point out that the exceptionally high rate for the month o'f Novem- ber is due to the fact that a serious accident occurred on the Brief ontein Mine, which raised the normal accident rate from 4'5 to 1308 per 1,000 per annum. Otherwise the to'tal mortality would have been 54'5, which is less than that of the same month of the previous year, and considerably below November, 1903, which was 79'4. I have, &c., SELBORNE, Governor. • See page 336 in Cd. 1895. f No. ] 6. no o 5^ m b 3 IS I! Eg o Q o J a 33 as o i-. H ?: < E- <: o u 4S h- IN CO t~ cr. 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OS^ o -!<__ lO -* c— x^ O-j^ d\ ■—^ CO •c »c^ CO -* x' cT CO CO 1-H i— 2 CO X CO QC l>- r^ t^ X X X ^ ' i ; : : : ; ; ; : si -»i B O i- S >, ,o a; > >■» s • • a: s s s 3 ^ rS. a. f-5 -^' 3 if. X o Ill No. 70. GovKRNOR THE EARL OF SELBORNE to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 17, 1906.) My Lord, Governor's Office, Johannesburg, January 29, 1906. I HAVE the honour to acknowlcdg-e the receipt of your telegram of the 16th January, No. 2,* in which j^ou raise a number of questions relating to the. treatment of Chinese lalwurers emplo3^ed on the Witwatcrsrand Gold Mines, and ask as to the efficiency of the new system of magisterial jurisdiction exercised by the Superintendent of Foreign Labour and by his inspectors. On the latter point I have already communicatod to you, in my despatch of the 8th January,* the opinion of the Superintendent of Foreign Labour, in which I fully concur, that the system provided for in the Foreign Labour Importation Amendment Ordinance is no longer experimental nor on its trial, and that its success has been proved by the unanimous approval of all persons concerned, by the small number of complaints addressed by the labourers to the Superintendent of Foreign Lalxiur, to whom all coolies are aware that they have direct access, and by the success which has attended the efforts of the Government to identify and arrest the labourers guilty of the comparatively small number of crimes which have been committed. From the 3rd Octoher, 1905, to January 15th, 1906, the inspectors have tried 2,771 coolies, of whom 2,632 have been convicted and 139 discharged. The principal offences with which they have had to deal have been the forging of work tickets, refusal to work, absence without permit, desertion, and illegal possession of opium. 2. On the question of the efficiency of the new system of magisterial jurisdic- tion of the Superintendent and inspectors, the Attorney- General, who, as Executive Head of the Law Department, is directly responsible for it, is preparing a report, but the pressure of work has been so great that he has, I regret to say, found it impossible to have it ready for this mail. 3. But I understand that you wish for a full report of my views upon the manner in which the officers of the Foreign Labour Department are carrying out not only their duties of preventing and dealing with offences committed by the labourers, but also their equally important duties of befriending them and protecting them against any improper treatment. 4. While I am satisfied that the officers of the Foreign Labour Department do efficiently discharge these duties, and while I know that the coolies are aware that they can always bring any complaint which they may have before these officers for investigation, and that they have confidence that their complaints will be justly dealt with, it is not easy to give within the limits of a despatch concrete evidence of the eft'ects of the relations which exist between the coolies and the officers of the F"oreign Labour Department. 6. The lines upon which inspectors of the Foreign Labour Department are required to work are shown in the circular letter addressed to them by Mr. Jamieson on the 20th November, a copy of which was enclosed in my despatch of the 4tli December last,* and from that despatch you will also see that the co-operation of mine malaagements in assisting the inspectors to carry out their duties has in every case been invited. 6. The inspectors are carrying out the instructions which have been given to them to the best of their ability, and no complaint by any coolie ever remains uninvestigated. The chief difficulty, however, with which the inspectors have to contend is that in many cases where grievances are believed to exist the aggrieved person himself prefers to maintain silence. It is obviously impossible to expect the inspectors fully to elucidate the facts with regard to such cases. 7. These cases occur for the most part in connection with disputes arising among the Chinese themselves. There is no lack of opportunity for having sTich disputes settled by the inspectors of the Foreign Labour Department. Proclama- tions in Chinese setting forth the machinery provided by law for the settlement of disputes are posted in every compound, and the Superintendent of Foreign Labour * No. :',6. t No. yi. t See No. 20. 112 has good { M -H r-* a 3 o a s k k. 1 CO t~ ^ i."^ 'jj CO -P O l:^ 2? r>\ 03 CO « O ^ i^ CO O i^O to 1— j CO «o r CO oT to" i-T cm' cm" z*^ >> § cc CO uO o to to t^ t^ !>• CO OO 00 c; rf> t-- ■s i a eg a o (M o »— t 1- 1^ QO t~ CM C-J tH L^ 3^ c; CM o CO to ■^ CM CO to CM I— 1 • (M ^ CO^ !M OO to^ to O CM t-;^ 3 t- to^ a V ^ irf ;o" l-^ o" c-l CM CM CM t^ CO CO C5 lO 22 OO O -^ CM -* CM to •lis g o -^ Oi 03 I— ( o ,-1 t^ o to t- to g 0) a 13 o o O o CO tM CO Ai o th W c* 6 ^ & ?-l >H >H rH 1— 1 >— 1 ^^ f-< y-K »— 1 1—1 T— ( 1— ( sa o bo a ■* O Ol OO' ^ c~ to 2< CM _J t^ J— -w Ol <*j 05 1^- •j I^ ^, CO CO Ci t~- t^ t^ t- CO t^ fe5 o O) (M »— I o CO CM 'i* t^ 00 Ci CV CO CO to lO to CO 0-. f— 1 m 0-. to u ■«i< C5 o S^( CO a5_ CO 00 CO I-I t— * A QJ a •ni to O o CO irT CO C-. Oi 0" 0" C^l i-O o 2 (M Oi CO CO CO CO CO CO CO 'l* •* •* CO to o Sj^- ^s 1^ CO (M -* t^ -+ I— C-. .H cr. t^ 00 Oi to • t^ CO o Ol •—1 t~ t~ to c~ —1 3 V -* C_ o^ to^ CQ ^ to_ co_ c^ t^ o_ 1—1 -Ji O > to -*" of of oT t-^ iO~ -"^tr .-T (^^ t- co" t- CO 00 OO CO OO 00 00 CO CO t^ 00 IM to ■r: to ■—1 o ^ =-. CO to to _ T-( • * -"tl •^ ■^ ^ CO Hi . o ti w !U O ^-3. ■S a t-. CO \Cl CO o Ci CM CO Oi 01 T« ^ £ « • ^ t^ CO Oi 1—1 o CTJ 0- i-l *— 1 in 00 3 ^ OO >H t- o CO CO CM__ 0^ tO^ rH t^ Oi ^^ Q > «v (M o to ao' t-^ lO" •*~ O" CO t>r to ■* rH O C3 30 Oi 03 OS Oi a> CTl CI OO 00 00 00 c:s : — : i : : : : : 1 fe a (» o !« a * * • • • t u u h as 3 8 I t* ^ a S Oi - SP a a -; Q) 1-? -Sj OQ i^ 0) % ^ 2 1 c C8 1 o ce "C. < 0- C u a a u a 3 3 P. A o 3 ■a S 3 d e <3 "I Is U9, No. 71. Governor Sir W. F. HELY-HUTCHINSON (Cape Colony) to The EARL OF ELGIN. (Received February 17, 1906.) My Lord, Government House, Cape Town, January 29, 1906. I FIND that I have omitted to supplement my telegram. No. 1, of 12th January,* transmitting to you a resolution passed at a meeting of members of the Afrikander Bond and others, presided over by Mr. J. H. Hofmeyr, protesting against certain statements which appeared in a London newspaper with regard to the results to be anticipated in the event of interference with Chinese immigration into the Transvaal, by sending you a report of the proceedings at the meeting. 2. I now send press reports of the proceedings and copies of newspaper articlest which appeared on the subject. " South African News," 10th Januarj-, 3. The proceedings at the deputation were 1906. formal. In consenting to forward the resolu- ^South African News," 10th January, ^^^-^^ j ^^j^ ^^^ deputation that I had read the •' Cape Times," 10th January, ]!)06. reports of the speeches delivered at the meet- " Cape Argus," 10th January, 1906. mg With attention, and that I would see that copies were communicated to you. WALTER HELY-HUTCHINSON. 1906. Enclosure in No. 71. " The South AFEir.w News," Wednesday, Tannary 10, 1906. Cutting the PjVintee. Loyalty and Chine.se Labour. Defaming the AFEicANnERS. English Press Misrepresentation. Protest by Influential South Afripans. Deputation to Wait upon the Governor. At the invitation of the Cape Town branch of the Bond about 150 local Bondsmen and their friends gathered at the Huguenot Hall, Queen Victoria-street, yesterday afternoon, to protest against the misrepresentations whicli had appeared in the English Press to the eifect that the Africander people were desirous of " cutting the painter " unless all restrictions against the importation of Chinese labour were removed. There were present, among others : Messi's. Hofmeyr, Merriman, Sauer, Malan, Jac. Graaff, M.L.C., Mr. Abraham Fischer, formerly chairman of the First Volksraad of the Free State ; Mr. Edward Eooth, of Pretoria ; Drs. Te Water and Forsyth, Mr. Vincent van der Byl, Prof. Fremantle, and Alessrs. C. C. de Villiers, J. W. Donovan, C. C. Silberbauer, F. J. Centlivres, A. Banning, Stauden, and C. Chiappini. The Hon. J. H. Hofmeyr, who presided, said that the circular was sent to Bondsmen, but it was not, in the strict sense, a Bond meeting, for " friends " were included in the invitation to be present, and any of those present who were not Bondsmen would be permitted to speak, and to move resolutions. The circular dealt with attempts which were being made to give the people of England the impression that if the importation of Chinese was interfered with the Dutch-speaking people would combine with a section of the uitlander population and secede from the Empire. The following was an extract from an English newspaper : " English and Boers, the hitherto loyal and the permanently disloyal, will now combine to ' cut the painter ' and politely and unanimously usher the British garrison and flag out of South Africa. This must be the upshot unless the electors dispossess the Liberals." (Laughter.) He was born a British subject, and, without protesting Ids loyalty, he would say that the cause of Chinese labour was of all causes the most unlikely to lead to a combined rebellion of the mine magnalos and the Dutch-speaking Africanders. (Applause.) ,, . , , • No. 34. t ^'ot l"i'i"ted. ISO The Eksolution. Mr. ViNCEKT VAN DER Byl then moved the following resolution : — " This meeting, having seen (a) that the following has been published in an influential organ of the London Press : ' English and Boers, the hitherto loyal and the permanently disloyal, will combine to cut the painter, and politely an) To ascertain what, if any, other tribes claim locations within the meaning of the Conventions of 1881 and 1884, and to recommend where, and to what extent, such should be granted; and (d) To report on any qiiestious arising out of these terms of reference. 'X copy of the Memorandum in which the Commissioner for Native Affairs recommended the constitution of this Commission is appended hereto. (Annexiire " A.") Squattinrj. — This subject is in need of regulation. To eject or to summarily remove a large section of the native population now squatting on Crown and private lands would entail much distress and lead to trouble. The present Squatters Law might possibly be amended or reconstructed upon the basis of the Cape Colonj- Law and Regulations recently issued, which provide that squatting, where held to be necessary or desirable, should only be allowed under Government sanction and control. The following resolutions of the report are recommended for adoption in the Transvaal : —■ " (1) That no native other than bond fide servant of the owner or occupier, with their families, should be permitted to live on private lands, except under Government sanction and control, and, further, that such sanction should only be given on proof that it is necessary or desirable, and, save in the case of labour tenants, should be subject to an adequate annual licence to be paid by the owner or occupier of the laud. The word ' families ' does not include adult sons unless they themselves are bond fide servants. " (2) That the main principles contained in the resolutions relating to locations on private property should be applied to natives on Crown lands other than those duly set apart as native reserves or locations, and that sanction for native occupation on such Crown lands should not be given unless an adequate rent is charged to the native occupier, based upon the producing value of the land. " (3) That contracts of tenancy exceeding one year should be in writing and duly attested. " (4) That, so far as may be practicable, lands held by municipalities or other public bodies or societies which are occupied by natives should be subject to regulations similar to those applicable to private or Crown lands, as already recommended by this Commission." In the meantime efforts are being made to procure full information with regard to native locafions, other than those specifically set apart and recognised, on Crown farms and private land. Purchase of Land by Natives. — Up to the present time the policy has been to continue that observed under the late Eepublic. viz., that in approved cases the Government .should take and hold in trust land purchased by natives as indicated in the Conventions of 1881 and 1884 between His Majesty's Government and the South African Ixepublic. The Commissioner for Native Affairs shares the views expressed in the Eeport to the effect that there will be many administrative and social difficulties created by the multiplication of a number of native units scattered throughout a white population and owning the land of the country equally with them, and that such a situation cannot fail to accentuate feelings of race prejudice and animosity with unhappy results. lie therefore supports the resolution of the Commission as to the necessity for certain restrictions upon purchase, and considers it would be well to adopt the following recommen- dations for the assignment of areas within which the natives may purchase and hold land at pleasure : — " (1) That purchase by natives should in future be limited to certain areas to be defined by legislative enactment. " (2) That purchase of land which may lead to tribal, communal or collective possession or occupation by natives should not be permitted." 125 ^-■■Native Lnrati-nnx. Tlip principles laifi down iu the following recommendations, particularly Suti-Sections 1 and 2, as regaixls the eaily definiti(ni and delimitation of all lauds dedicated and set apart with a view to finality iu the provision of land for the native population, should clearly be accepted by and applied to this Colony : — " (1) That the time has arrived when the lands dedicated and set apart, or to be dedicated and set apart, as locations, reserves, or otlierwis^, should be defined, delimited and reserved for the natives by legislative enactment. "(2) That this should be done with a view to finality in the provision of land for the native population and tliat thereafter no more land should be reserved for native occupation. " (3) The creation, subject to adequate control, of native locations for residential purposes near labour centres or elsewhere, on proof that they are needed. " (4) That the right of occupation of the lands so defined and set apart shall be subject to a condition of forfeiture in case of rebellion." Tribal System. — It is evident from the findings of the Commission that the abolition of the tribal system and chieftainship should be loft to time and evolution towards civilization, assisted by legislation when necessary and administrative methods. It is acknowledged on all sides to be inadvisable to break down or sweep away existing native laws and customs, which are interwoven with the entire social system, in so far as they are not repugnant to the general princijDles of humanity and civilization. The Commission's recommendation that under no consideration should natives be prevented from freely taking their cases into Court without the interference of agents-at-law, is one which is entirely supported by this Department. Urban Locations for Natives. — The best means of attracting natives to live and carry on continuous labour in urban areas is to improve the state of Urban Locations so far as to afford inducement to the natives to better their position and become accustomed to and contented with permanent employment. The locations everywhere admit of much improvement which the municipal authorities should take in hand. It should be our aim to encourage the establishment in these locations of a respectable class and give them every opportunity to respect themselves and advance. The more tbey improve the more necessary it becomes for them to be continuous wage earners. In such locations it will be well to set apart an area within which those who desire it may purchase their own holdings and gain fixity of tenure, which will inspire in them the desire to improve their surroundings and general conditions. The erection by local authorities of buildings for the accommodation of those who require it at low rents, the establishment of sound sanitary and healthy arrangements, together with easy and cheap facilities for movement to their sphere of labour, are aims of the greatest importance. Education. — As pointed out by the Commission it would be undesirable to unduly force file extension of education among the native population. But where there is a demand for it and where the natives themselves are willing to contribute in some measure towards the cost of supplying it, their efforts should be aided ami directed by Government, whilst grants-in-aid sTiould be made in no unstinted way, subject of course to such conditions and regulations as it may be deemed necessary to impose. Taxation. — In view of the fact that there is such a demand for labour tliroughout the Transvaal and that good wages are easily obtainable by those who are willing to learn and perform any work required of them, there appears to be no need for any alteration of the taxation now imposed. It has been felt, however, that agriculture has iu the past few years suffered considerably from drought and other causes, and that the natives have sought and still seek higher wages than the farmer can afford to pay. It is of the highest importance that farmers should be able to rely upon continuity of labour, and that labourers should be attracted to dwell permanently upon farms in fixed and cont"inuous employment. If so employed it is not easy for them to go to markets where high wages are offered. It is worthy of consideration, therefore, whether all farm natives in bond fide and continuous employment should not be exempt from payment of the full tax of £2 now imposed by law and rendered liable only for a reduced tax so long as they may be so employed. Inspection of Districts. — In consequence of liis absence on the Native Affairs Commission, it was not possible for the Commissioner to undertake any general visit of the districts for the purpose of becoming more closely in touch and acquainted with the natives, and of affording them facilities for personally addressing representations to him, of studying their local con- ditions, and of satisfying himself as to the administration of the general policy of the Government. He took an oppoi-tunity, however, of making a short tour through the Lj-denburg District, towards the end of April, when a satisfactory conference was held with the Magistrates and Sub-Native Commissioners of that and of the Middelburg District. Transfer of Head Offices from Johwnnesbnrg to Pretoria. — It was decided towards the enen fixed as 36 ins. drilled, wliile due grace is always allowed to new natives to enable them to become accustomed to the work and sufficiently skilled to drill the recjuired footage. Until such time they invariably receive the full rate of pay. The action of the mine authorities in this connection was consetiuently upheld l)y this Department, anved from the previously unsatisfactory hospital rooms and placed in the new joint hospital at the North Randfontein. March, 1905. — (1) Old rooms in the square pulled down and removed. (2) A storeroom built. (-'3) Latrines fenced in. (4) The floor in the bottom wing of the compound filled in and levelled up with earth. ■lune, 1905. Kitchen enlarge attendant. Iktrhati Roodepnort. — Eight new rooms have been added to the compound. Rondcpnnrt Central Deep. — This compound has been entirely renovated, in accordance with recommemlations. A new hospital to accommodate about 100 natives has been bxiilt, it is under the supervision of a white attendant. Roodepnort United. — A white attendant has been placed in charge of the hospital. Voijel.itnii.i Consolidated Deep. — This compound hasfbeen entirely renovated in accordance with recommendations. Vogelstruis Est-ate. — New blocks of rooms on excellent lines have been built to meet require- ments of added complement. MiDDELBURG D1.STEICT. WitbanJc Colliery. — New roof to old compound and windows put in throughout. Covered way from shaft to compound. Steam kitchen. Hospital brick lined. TransiYhal and Delar/oa Baxf Collieries.-— l!io improvements during the year. (Compound accommodation and hospital good.) ('oronatii)ti Colliery. — Six new wood and iron rooms with pitched roofs, box ventilation, impervious floor an.--This mine started work in January, 1905. Natives live in huts. Pretoria District Diamond Company's hospital is used when required. Heidelherg District. Nigel. — New wing has been added to compound built of brick with large, well-ventilated rooms, gable roofs and beaten earth floors. New kitchen with steam cooking plant. Wood and iron latrine, bucket system introduced, concrete floor. New lean-to roof on half of old portion of compound. Twelve additional iron bedsteads, with mattresses, have been provided in the ho'ipital. 'Nigel Deep. — This mine only re-started work in May, 1905. Two semi-detached cottages have been converted into a hospital. Fortuna Colliery. — No improvements. Coronation Syndicate. — No improvements. He.v River E:rploration Co. — Flooring boards have been put down for sleeping purposes. South Rand Exploration Colliery. — Portions of compound built of burnt brick, with large well ventilated rooms, granolithic floors, iron frame detachable bedsteads, with detachable wooden bunks. Compound manager's office, &c., electric light. Kleeksdorp District. No improvements liave been effected to either compounds or compound hospitals, all compounds being practically unused during the greater portion of the year. Yeheeniging District. Vereeniging Estates. — Iron bedsteads have been provided in the hospital. Inspection and Cases Adjudicated by Inspectors. — The extension and demarcation of the labour districts has considerably increased the areas to be covered by individual Inspectors in the performance of their duties. ' The necessity of visiting outlying works, which had not previously been within their juris- diction, has caused a slight falling off in the number of inspections carried out during the jear. 5,151 inspections were ma■ 18,685 Total 4,322,577-220 £18,361,144 3,475,311-225 £14,762,184 lo4 Tomiaffr ]\fillr{l, — For the same periods tlio ions milled were: — 1P04-05. VVitwatersrand Mines Heidelberg Pretoria District Mines (Barberton, Lydenbiirg. Pietersburg) Klerksdorp Mines Total Tons. 9,570,143 71.449 273,044 8,273 9,922,909 1902-04. Ton.^. 7,280,728 49,358 264,285 .0,847 7,000,218 Cnishtiirj Mines. — During tlie month of June, 1905, there were: — 66 ISIines producing in tlie Witwatersrand dropping 6,639 Stamps. ~ , „ at Heidelberg dropping 70 Stamps. ( Barberton, j „ „ ^ Lydenburg and i dropping 309 Stamps. I Pietersburg ) „ „ Do. No clean up. , „ „ Barberton. (Dry Crushing). No clean up. „ „ Klerksdorp dropping 28 Stamps. , „ „ Klerksdorp. Using Battery as a crusher. ,, „ Klerksdorp. No clean up. „ in the Transvaal. 2 14 1 2 i J 89 Stamps at Work. — The number of stamps at work on all gold mines increased during the- year from 4,937 in July, 1904, to 7,046 in June, 1905, and averaged 5,939 running for 339'126 days, which is, theoretically, equivalent to 5,518 stamps running continuously throughout the full year. The theoretical average for the previous year was 4,322 The number of stamps erected as at 30th June, 1905, was 9,349, as detailed in the machinery section of this report. Stamp Duty, ^-c. — ^The number of tons crushed per stamp per day of 24 hours was 4"927, as- against a duty of 4-805 tons for the year 1903-04, and as against 4-561 tons for 1898. For each ton of ore milled, excluding dry crushing 1-238 tons of rock were raised. „ oz. fine gold produced 2843 „ „ „ stamp at work 6-101 ,, ,, per day. The producing mines of the "Witwatersrand during June, 1905, employed 2015 persons per stamp as against 1599 in July, 1899, while the tons of ore milled per person at work was 8-54 as against 8-46 in July, 1899.' Cov-ipansons. — The following is a comparison in respect of the gold mines of the Transvaal between August, 1899, and June, 1905: — June, 1905. Ausfust, 1S99. Number of stamps at work (Transvaal) Tons of ore crushed (Transvaal) Duty per Stamp per day (Witwatersrand only) ... *Total yield (inclusive) Transvaal *Dwts. fine ffold per ton crushed (Transvaal) *Yield from mills only (Transvaal) •Percentage of yield from Mills to total (Transvaal) 7,046 973,357 5-018 412345-071 8-473 262840-035 63-743 6,070 856,233 4-86 41096505 9-599 265584-10 64-624 Oi'e Value per Ton. — During the year the vield per ton milled (inchi5S 1..")1S — — Decrease — — — — 28.773 12.730 Wit WATER SEAND Onlt. Producing. Non-Producing. Year. Main Shaft Sinking. Main Drives and Cross-cuts. Other De- velopment. Main Shaft '^'*^.?f ""^ 1 Other De- Sinking. Crosscuts, ^elopment. 1904-1905 1903-1904 17.593 12.04.-. 236,.-)73 171,170 112,136 81,993 19,598 15,403 65,754 87,253 22.161 29,976 Increase .j,.i48 65,403 30,143 4,195 — — Decrease .. — — — 21.4P9 7,.S15 Rock Drills. — The following statement shows the number of mines employing rock drill machines and the average number of machine drills in iise since June, 1902 : — Month, 1902— June December 1903— June December 1904 — June December 190.1 —June Witwatersrand. No. of Mines usinq: ' No. of Rock Drills Rock Drills. in use. 50 60 68 72 70 76 671-0 994-0 1.313-7 1., 56 1-2 1.6310 1,746-1 l. 43,510-6.''>8 4.5.813-707 43,425-698 Value. "476,08.5-975 £ .3,641 3,82(; 3.7.56 3,776 4,168 4,306 4,506 4,4.50 4,891 4,844 5,006 4,805 .54,221 * These fifrures represent the net output after the final adjustment of differences in assays as indicated by Account Sales received by the Mines from London. There are no .Mlver ores being iiiiued in the Transvaal at the present time. Coal. Output. — During the year under review 2,513,824 tons of coal were sold by the collieries, valued at £874,856, or 6s. ll-52d. per ton at the pit's mouth. Tho Transvaal output of coal during the past three years -was as follows: — Year. 1902-1903 1903-1904 1904-1905 Tons. 1,969,089 2,370,465 2,513,824 Value. 782,906 9S.-.931 874.856 The two largest coal-producing areas are Springs-Brakpan and Middelburg. These districts contributed 92 per cent, of the total production. Tho following table gives the total production classified according to districts : — DiSTBICT. Tons. Percentage of Total. Value. Value per Ton. Springs-Brakpan Area : — Round Nut Fine 816,692 250,303 51,157 ... £ 304,992 78.416 7,505 .«. ,1. 7 5-63 6 3-19 2 11-21 Total 1.118,1.52 44-48 390,913 6 U-91 Jliddelburg: Area : — Bound 971,908 334,370 6 10-57 Nut 215,037 61,706 5 8-87 Fine 2,507 271 2 1-94 Total , 1,189.452 47-32 396,347 6 7-97 Other Districts ; — Bound 179,997 ... 81,871 1) 1-16 Nut 23,497 ... 5,420 4 T-36 Fine 2,726 305 2 2-85 Total 206,220 8-20 87.596 8 5-94 23718 158 Producing Collieries. — The names of collieries which contributed to the output will be found on Table 15. Comparative Output. — The output of coal for each calendar year since 1893 is as under :^ Year. 1893 .. 1894 .. 1895 .. \i',637 40,091 27.958 .•i,992 46,630 17,922 6,802 Comparison with previous year. 114,698 8,726 2,425 24,3.i5 16,628 56,486 37,704 6,253 9,086 It will be noticed that the output of cement and slate has considerably decreased. Salt Works. The Zoutpansberg Salt Company is still the only salt-producing concern in the Transvaal. The sales for the year ended the 30th June, 1905, amounted to 1,016,400 lbs. of salt, valued at £2,159, against 291,508 lbs., valued at £781, for the previous year. SECTION III. Accidents and Prosecutions. The total number of separate accidents reported to this department during the past year was 1,207. as compared with 895 for the year ending 30th June, 1904, being an increase of 312. 1 «0 All allocation of the separate accidents on mines and a comparison with the previous year appear in the following table : — On Gold Mines „ Coal Mines ., Oiamond Mines „ Other Mine? Total Rate per l,00i) persons employed I'.IIFl-l'JdS. 1903-1904. 1,107 l>4 14 G 1,191 .S36 784 SI 872 8-89 Showing' that although the total number of accidents has increased, the proportion of accidents to the number of persons employed has decreased. The remaining 16 accidents not accounted tor in the above table occurred in works, some ofwhich do not come under the regulations for the return of labour statistics. With the exception of a few unimportant eases, all accidents liave been fully investigated by the Inspector.^ of Mines, who, especially in the Witwaters'rand area, have spent the greater portion of their time in this class of work. Ratio of Killed to Jnj-iired. — The ratio of killed to injured was, in the case of whites, 1 to 2'17 : in the case of coloured, 1 to 1'41 ; and in the case of Chinese, 1 to 1^92. The ratios of killed to injured for the years ended 31st December, 1898, 30th June, 1903, and 30th June, 1904, were: — White.s. Coloured. 1898 1902-19(13 1903-1904 1 to 2-37 1 to 3-38 1 to 2-49 1 to M 1 to 1-74 1 to 1 ■:•.."; Fatal Accidents. During the past year there were 602 deaths due to accidents on mines and works of the Transvaal, being an increase of 163 over the year ended 30th June, 1904. Of the 602 deaths, 76 were whites, 416 coloured, and 111 Chinese, as against 66 whites and 373 coloured person* kiHed during 1903-1904. Of the 602 fatalities, 558 occurred on Gold Mines, 26 ,, „ Coal Mines, 5 ,, „ Diamond Mines, 6 ,, ,, Other Mines, 7 ,, ,, Metallurgical and other Works. 602 Death 1905, was t -Jlate. — The iiumbei 395, ami the death-i ■ of persons killed in mines only during the year ende) 3 jj 5 M 3,295 79,996 sq. ft. 2,879 294,219 i.h.p. ... 209 7,943 i.h.p. 233,394 h.p. 61,157 h.p. 44,700 h.p. 234 h.p. 106,091 h.p. 164 SECTION IV. Machineht. The work performed by the Inspectors of Machinery during the year under review includes the following : — 2,211 external examinations of boilers; 2,134 internal examinations of boilersj and 1,191 hydraulic tests. In addition to the performance of these duties, 1,125 official visits have been made to mines and works for other purposes, such as examination and test of winding plant, inquiry into the circumstances attending accidents, inspection of fencing and guards fitted to moving machinery, and there have been 34 official attendances at inquests and prosecutions. Full particulars concerning the power and value of boilers, engines, and machinery in the Transvaal will be found in Tables Xos. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32. The following is an extract of the more important details:- — Boilers : — Total number Fire grate area ... Prime Motive Machinery : — Total number Total power Lorries, Traction Engines, Steam Waggons, 8fc. : — Total number ; Total power Driven Machinery : — Total power Intermediate Machinery : — Compressed air ... Electrical Hydraulic i Machinery of 145,084 h.p. is driven by steam power (direct). Machinery of 30,064 h.p. is driven, and lighting to the extent of 7,677 k.w., is effected by electrical power (produced, 96 per cent, by steam power and 4 per cent, by water power). Machinery of 43,435 h.p. is driven by compressed air (produced, 99 per cent, by steam power and 1 per cent, by electrical power). Machinery of 2,734 h.p is driven by hydraulic power (94'5 per cent, natural and 5'5 per cent, produced by steam). Machinery of 1,841 h.p. is driven by oil and gas engines. Complete plant of 248,768 h.p. and value £17,058,783 is erected for gold mines and allied concerns. Complete plant of 6,643 h.p. and value £632,556 is erected for coal mining. Complete plant of 2,082 h.p. and value ±'219,592 is erected for diamond mining. Complete plant of 229 h.p. and value £13,482 is erected for other mining. Complete plant of 36,497 h.p. and value £1,683,946 is erected for industrial concerns. Nevs^ Machinery and Plant. Compared with the previous year, the foregoing statistics show increases for 1904-5 as Tinder : — 43,451 h.p. ... value £1,877,190 ... for gold mining and allied concerns. 1,376 h.p. ... „ 148,562 ... for coal mining. 1,432 h.p. ... „ 132,711 ... for diamond mining. ^144 h.p. ... „ 5,987 ... for other mines. 7,293 h.p. ... ,, 26,300 ... for industrial concerns. _ The mining industry is concerned in these increases to the extent of 46,403 h.p., and value .£2,164,450. Including the increase in the value of buildings on mines, viz., £1,092,740, the total increase in value is £3,257,190. The increase in the value of machinery shown above (£2,164,450) does not, however, represent the real value of new plant, as the following facts have to be taken into consideration : — (fl) The returns furnished to the Mines Department for the year 1904-5 include figures for machinery to the value of £425,635, owned by companies whose returns were not available for inclusion in the previous year's statistics. (6) In many cases a certain percentage has been written off for depreciation. It has not been ascertained to what extent the practice has obtained, but it may be assumed that four per cent, would be a fair average, and on this basis the sum of £782,805 would represent the depreciation written off. 165 Deducting from the total £3,257,190 tlie sum of £425,635, alhuled to in {a)j and adding the amount of £782,805, explained in (b), a sum of £3,()14,'>()0 is arrived at, which may be taiien to represent approximately the value of the new machinery, plant, and buildings erected ou mines during the year. Of this sum an amount of £1,020, (ifjO is accounted for by sundry items of machinery and spares that wore required for replenishmeut, as shown under items " Machinery and Machine Tools," and " Electric Light and Power Fittings," in the " Stores Consumed," Table No. 35. The balance of £2,593,710 is the amount that was spent on the equipment of new mines and on the extension of the plants of other mines. Such outlay would most probably be charged to capital expenditure and would therefore not be reflected in a statement of value of stores and material issued for consumption or replacement. This expenditure of over two and a half millions appears therefore to represent the outlay in connection with the new equipment and the large increases of plant in such mines as the New Groch, Angelo, Driefontein Consolidated, New Comet, Knights Deep, New Kleinfontein, Simmer and Jack Proprietary, Witwatersrand Deep, and the Premier Diamond Mine. The following table shows the value of the chief items of plant on gold mines for 1905, compared with 1904 : — Classification. 1904. 1905. Increase. Decrease. Water purifying plant Boilers, other than those of locos, traction engines and steam wagons. Headgears Steam engines and appliances for hoisting' Compressed air motors and appliances for hoisting Electric motors and appliances for hoisting Engines and appliances for pumping Engines for air compressing, including compressors, pipes, drills, &c. Engines for other purposes Electrical plant other than that previously sho^vn Steam locomotive plant, including traction engines, steam lorries, rails, &o. Mechanical haulage, plant, rails, &o Reduction plant, excluding engines Treatment plant, including furnaces, &c. Workshop plant, excluding engines and motors Mine ventilation plant, excluding engines, compressors, and motors. Diamond drills (property of company) Other items not shown previously (gross) Buildings £ yO,.S84 1,.S29,696 787,457 1,048,940 24,924 20,058 757,134 1,175,604 611,473 807,349 275,385 326,484 3,008,180 2,642,681 392,028 15,514 18,875 1,835,877 3,583,091 & 49,775 1,623,609 875,649 1,252,938 37,149 26,073 863,596 1,334,481 706,191 942,597 309,658 437,766 3,231,394 3,080,139 448,429 20,418 25,811 1,752,825 4,636,270 £ 19,391 293,913 88,192 203,998 12,525 6,015 106,462 158,877 94,718 135,248 34,273 111,282 223,214 437,458 56,401 4,904 6,936 1,0.53,179 £ 83,052 Totals 18,691,134 21,655,068 Net Increase 3,046,986 83,052 83,052 2,963,934 SECTION VII. « « * General. Miner's Pnxiiisis. During the past year the recommendations of the Special Phthisis Commission have not resulted in the voluntary use to any extent of dust-laying appliances underground, and owing to the indifferent manner in which practical dust-laying methods have been received by those persons for whose benefit the whole subject of phthisis prevention was investigated, it has been found necessary to draft certain regulations which, under powers to be conferred by the New JEnes Works and Machinery Amendment Ordinance, can be made law by the Lieutenant- Governor in Council. The new Phthisis Eegulations, which are now under discussion, are based on the recent English rules and altered to meet local circumstances. It is intended to add the Phthisis Rules to Article 146 of the present Mining Regulations, and they will form additions to the Health Rules now in force. For all practical purposes the chief causes of this phthisis disease may be summed up as follows : — 1. Returning immediately after firing to a face to re-blast a cut or to charge and blast easing holes. 23718 Y J 166 This lias probably been responsible for the majority of 44 17-49 3S3.913-3i)l 399,102-037 dwts. 9-653 8-519 4-084 2-983 15-999 20-154 It will be noticed that the number of persons employed per stamp at worh by the Witwaters- rand gold mines is now considerably more than it was in 1899, the difference in favour of June, 1905, being 4.155 persons. Coal. — ^The keen competition which exists between collieries is responsible for the com- paratively large fall in the price of coal as indicated by the following figures : — • Year. 1898 ... 1901-1902 1902-1903 1903-1904 1904-1905 Output. (Tons of 2,000 lbs.) 1,907,808 1,134,871 1,969,089 2,370,465 2,513,824 Value. £ 668,346 469,769 782,906 895,931 874,856 Value per Ton at Pit's Mouth. s. (1. 7 0-07 8 3-35 7 11-42 7 6-71 6 11 -.52 The output for the year 1904-1905 constitutes a record as far as actual tonnage is con- -cerned, but it will be seen that the competition above referred to has materially reduced the selling price at the pit's mouth. 176 Diamond.i. — lu my report for the year 190;3-1904 reference was made to the effect of the diamond production upon the mineral output of the Colony. For the year 1903-1904 the value of diamonds produced was equivalent to 4 per cent, of the gross mineral output, and for the year 1904-1905 the percentage was 5.7. The total value of the diamond output for 1904-1905 is shown hereunder, together with comparisons with previous years: — Year. 1897 ... 1898 ... 1899 ... 1901-1902 1902-1903 1903-1904 1904-1905 Carats. Vak 5,792-00 £ 11,500 22,843-00 43,730 No record. No record 350-00 1,199 33,572-57 46,358 497,917-14 685,720 995,002-51 1,198,530 The majority of the stones found come from the Pretoria district, as shown by the following figures : — Carats. Value. Mines and alluvial workings in the Pretoria District Christiana Diggings Wolmaransstad Total 991,890-26 3,053-00 59-25 & 1,186,266 11,864 400 995,002-51 1,198,530 Some excellent stones have been recovered by diggers at Christiana, and I am informed that the quality of the stones, generally speaking, is superior to those found in the Pretoria district. Comparisons. The following figures for the years 1898 and 1904-1905 are of interest. Those for 1898 are given as the latest pre-war data obtainable from ofiicial records published by the late- Government : — Tear 1904-1905. Year 1898. Total estimated value of machinery and plant erected on gold and coal mines (excluding buildings). Total value of stores consumed by gold and coal mines only. Total amount paid in salaries and wages to whites by gold and coal mines only. Total amount of wages paid to coloured (including Chinese for 1904-05) by gold and coal mines only. £ 17,651,354 7,205,291 5,446,099 3,088,218 £ 9,407,072 5,092,178 3,885,680 2,511,894 The following figures illustrate the increase in the amounts spent by the mines in the Witwatersrand area and also the gold output during the same period: — "WlT-WATERSEADTD ONLY. Period. White Wages and Salaries. Native Wages. Chinese Wages. Value of Stores Consumed. Value of Gold Output. For the twelve months ending June, 1904. For the twelve months ending June, 1905. £ 4,219,249 5,050,234 £ 1,835,253 2,412,716 £ 1,059" 399,875 £ 5,751,478 6,572,837 £ 14,255,939 17,760,373 Increase 830,985 577,463 398,816 821,3.59 3,504,434 ♦ Figures for July, 1904. 177 It will be seen that the spending power of the inining community, i.e., white, coloured, and Chinese employees has increased by more than one and three-quarter millions sterling in twelve months, and that the increase in the case of whites alone is greater than the additional expenditure for mining materials and consumable stores. H. WELDON, Johannesburg, Commissioner of Mines December 22, 1905. (Acting). Appendix No. V. Government Notice No. 77 of 1906. His Excellency the Acting Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased, under the powers conferred on him by Section twenty-nine of the Labour Importation Ordinance, to revoke Regulation No. 45 as published in Government Notice No. 949 of 1905 and to substitute the following Regulation in place thereof. RICHARD SOLOMON, Attorney-General. Attorney-General's Office, Pretoria, January 17, 1906. 45. In every Mining compound in which labourers are employed, there shall be provided a suitable board exclusively reserved for the posting of Government Noitices. Alongside thereof shall also be provided a locked box for the reception of petitions to the Superintendent by labourers. These boxes shall be cleared by the Visiting Inspector, and must not be tampered with by unauthorised persons. Any employer failing to make provisions for such board and box as aforesaid or failing to affix to such board any Government Notice when requested to do so by the Superintendent shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds. Any person who shall tamper with any Government Notice posted on such board or with the box provided for the reception of petitions, or who shall attempt to deter labourers from depositing petitions therein, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds or in default of payment to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two months. Appendix No. VI. Government Notice No. 78 of 1906. His Excellency the Acting Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to make the following Regulation under the powers vested in him by the Labour Importation Ordinance, 1904. RICHARD SOLOMON, Attorney-General. Attorney-General's Office, Pretoria, January 17, 1906. Regulation 46. Whenever the Superintendent, after careful enquiry, is satisfied that the control of labourers on a mine is inefficient and that such inefficiency is due to the fact that there is not on such mine a European official in the service of the employer conversant with the language of the labourers employed thereon, he may require such employer in writing within a reasonable time to be agreed between them, or in the absence of such agreement to be fixed by the Lieutenant-Governor, to engage the services of such a European official. Any employer who fails to carry out such request as aforesaid within the period agreed on •or fixed by the Lieutenant-Governor shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds for every day he is in default. 178 APPENDIX No. VII. Statement Showing Stamps Erected, Capital Expenditure and Aveuaoe Cost pek Stamp, Estimated Capital Expenditure for Projected Development at T) and 10 Years. (Presented to Mr. Chamberlain in .Tanuap.y. 1903.") Sl'c Appendix I. in Cd. 1895. Groups. Number of Companies. Stamps Erected. Capital I Per Expenditure. Stamp. Estimated Capital Expenditure for Projected Development at 6 Years. ; 10 Years. Total. Consolidated Goldfields H. Eckstein & Co Farrar and Anglo-French General Mining and Finance... A. Goerz & Co Johannesburg Consolidated In- vestment Company. S. Neumann & Co Rand Mines J. B. Robinson ... Sundry Champ D'Or Durban Eoodepoort French Rand Geldenhuia Estate Jubilee Nigel Salisbury Vogelstruis Estates Wemmer Windsor Worcester York West Eoodepoort Deep Total and average per Stamp. i 10 3 4 5 10 3 10 7 68 580 1,085 320 250 340 950 240 1,240 580 60 80 60 120 50 50 50 80 60 CO 40 40 3,816,617 5,794,209 1,682,687 1,305,608 2,226,664 3,899,188 1,111,528 5,484,154 1,958,136 150,894 232,495 492,310 672,510 206,767 314,328 203,569 186,162 307,713 155,436 124,093 104,136 6.580 5,340 5,258 5,222 6,549 4,104 4,631 4,422 3,376 2,515 2,906 8,205 5,604 4,135 6,2S6 4,071 2,327 5,128 3,108 3,102 2,603 4,640,000 3,283,053 3,145,000 4,900,000 2,515,000 2,550,000 755,000 2,700,000 240,000 30,000 185,000 6,325 30,429.204 4,811 24,943,053 2,320,000 895.000 1,440,000 900,000 1,925,000 5,000,000 12,480,000 13,000,000 6,960,000 3,283,053 4,040.000 4,900,000 3,955,000 3,450,000 2,680,000 7,700,000- 240,000 30,000 185,000 50,423,053 Note. — The cost per stamp is in some cases new plant. excessive as it includes old stamps and equipment abandoned, replaced by \ J Trade (Impoi ts and Exports) of the United Kingdom with the Colonies and Foreign Oonntries. Eatea of Wages and Hours of Labour at Elome and Abroad ; Customfl Tariff ; Food Supply, &o., viz. :— [Cd. 2G22.] Statistical Absteact o» the United Kingdom. Years 1890-1904. Price 1«. 3d. [Cd. 2679.] Do. do. Colonies. Years 1890-1904. Price l8. 9d. [Cd. 25G6.] Do. do. Foreign Countries. Years 1893-1902-03. Price 1«. dd. [Cd. 2754.] Do. do. British India. Years 1894-1895 to 1903-1904. Price 1«. Sd. [Cd. 2497, 2626.] Trade of the United Kingdom, 1904. Vols. I. and II. Price 11». lOd. [Cd. 2797.] FoBBioN Import Ddties, 1905. Price 2i. [Cd. 2556.] Navigation and Shipping Statement. 1904. Price 3«. Irf. [Cd. 1761, 2337, 2669.1 British and Foreign Trade and Industrial Conditions. Memoranda, Tables, and Charts. Prepared by the Board of Trade. First and Second Series, and Index. ' Price 7«. [Cd. 2473.] Bast India. Trade of. Years 1899-1900 to 1903-1904. Price Is. 3d. [Cd. 2629.] Statistical Tables relating to British Colonies, Possessions, and Pbotectorates. PartXXYIII. 1903. Price 78. [Cd. 2395.] Statistical Abstract of the British Empire, years 1889-1903. Price 6d. [Cd. 2414.] New German Tariff, as modified by Treaties ; comes into force Ist March 1906. Price U. lOrf. [Cd. 2594.] Agricultural Returns — Great Britain. 1904. Price 1«. bd. [Cd. 2627.] Colonial Import Duties. 1905. Price 28. 3d. [Cd. 2674.] Wages and Hours of Labour— Report on the Changes in ; 1904. Price Id, [Cd. 2675.] Directory op Industrial Associations in the United Kingdom. 1905. Price IW. [Cd. 2750.] East India. Review of Trade, 1904-05. Price 5Jd. [Cd. 2768.] Switzerland. New Customs Tariff as Modified by Treaties with Germany and Italy. Price 7d. [Cd. 2785.] Colonial Conferences. Correspondence relating to the future Organization of. Price 2Jd. RouMANiA. Translation of the New Customs Tariff, 1906. Interim Statement. Price Sd. Record Office rablloatlOBBi — I. Calendars:— Venice. Vol. XII. 1610-1613. Price 15s. n. Lists and Indexes. No. XIX, State Papers, Foreign. Price i»i III. Privy Council op England. Acts of. New Series. Vol. XXX. 1599-1600. Prioe 10«. IV. Chronicles of England : — Year Books of the Reign of Edward UL Years XVIII and XIX. Price lOf. VI. Scottish :— Guide to the Public Records of Scotland. Price 3». 6d. Blllltaryi— Africa. Geology of the Continent of. Notes on. Price 3s. Engineering. Military. Manual of. 1905. Price 1$. Rifle Ranges. Care and Construction of. Instructions -for. Price 3i^ _i».l""TT February^ \W^ VAAL Ijis ^lajcsty. LONDON: PttlNTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. Bt darling & SON, Ltd., 34-40, Bacon Street, E. And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from WYMAN AND SONS, Ltd., Fritter Lane, E.G., and 32, Abingdon Stkeet, Westminster, S.W ; or OLIA'ER & BOYD, Edinburgh; or E. PONSONBY, 116, Grafton Street, Dublin. 19U6. [Cd. 2811).] VHcc U. M. 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