A.—s

166

succeed, and, if we do, we have almost as large a held there for the settlement of men of our colour and race as the other Dependencies with the Empire. 1 will not say it is so, perhaps, as regards Canada, because there they seem to have such a vast area of arable land that we cannot compare ourselves to it; but given area for area, I do believe we shall be able to absorb proportionately our share of emigration from this land. General BOTHA : Lord Elgin, and gentlemen, in the Transvaal our position is almost more difficult than in any other of the South African Colonies. The unfortunate circumstances in the past have dislocated many matters there, but the Government since the conclusion of peace is doing its best to encourage immigration into the Transvaal. During the War many people came to the Transvaal who are not suitable for immigration purposes, and who do not wish to remain there. We have unfortunately a place like Johannesburg where people want to get rich very soon, and that is where the difficulty lies with us in the Transvaal. 1 have a great faith in South Africa and in the Transvaal as a country for a large population, especially as regards agriculture. But it will take some time before we can put this thing on a proper basis. 1 hope that we shall be able to very strongly support the immigration of white people into the Transvaal, because if there is one thing that we require in South Africa it is a large white population. At present we want people who have some means. We have to-day thousands of people in the country who have really no work to do and the Government have to employ them on road making and similar matters to make them earn their daily bread. Then unfortunately there is the lamentable difference of opinion between whites and whites on the labour question. Now my Government are of opinion that we should as far as practrcable encourage the immigration of white workmen into the country. The biggest immigration that we have had into the Transvaal has been that of Chinese, and 1 think we have between 50,000 and 60,000 Chinamen still in the country. I hope that on this question too we shall be able to arrive at a clear understanding, and that in future instead of importing yellow labour we shall have immigration of white people into the country, because we feel that if we have a considerable white immigration into the country the money which they earn will be spent afterwards in building up the agriculture of the country. We have got any amount of scope and space, and we think we can bear a population of millions of people. The thing that we lack is money to carry out this, project. It is a dry country. We must set large irrigation schemes on foot, and before we have made some such arrangements it will be impossible for us to do anything further. I may say that my Government have under their earnest consideration to-day the question of encouraging more white people into the country and on to the farms and on to the land. Mr. DEAKIN : Might I point out this : speaking in an impromptu fashion to-day, I did not read one document which I ought to have read with reference to emigration, though I alluded to it. A Mr. Hughes, who represents the employers in Queensland who desire to obtain white labour for sugar cutting, wrote to the Emigration Board and I referred to their reply without quoting it. He forwarded the conditions to them. The conditions are for the obtaining of labourers, and provide that preference must be given to British people under all circumstances. Only failing them can application be made to the Continent. lam happy to hear indirectly that we hope to obtain a sufficiency from this country without applying at all to the Continent so far as the Queensland Government is concerned. However, what they are offered is not contract rates, though they may take these if they like afterwards, but regular terms, which range from 225. Od. to 255. a week with rations and accommodation, and for harvesting, 255. a week

Sixth Day. ?| f25 April 1907. [1 -V —IC^J (Mr. F. R. Moor.)