[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "] $1E,—In the Spectator of
March 26th you quote, on the autho- rity of Mr. Asquith, from a statement made by Mr. William Grant before the Transvaal Labour Commission to the effect that in his opinion "the full requirements of the mining industry can be met from the population of the Transvaal and adjacent territories." Might I suggest that Mr. Asquith and yourself should pursue Mr. Grant's evidence a little further? The passage quoted by Mr. Asquith in the House of Commons was taken from Mr. Grant's evidence in chief,
Which, in common with that of all other witnesses before the Labour Commission, was handed in in writing as a basis of examination. Mr. Grant stated before the Com- mission that he had committed this opinion to paper in January, 1903. His opinions on the subject, however, appear to have received considerable modification as the course of the Labour Commission revealed the gravity and magnitude of the labour shortage. If you will turn to the minutes of evi- deuce (Blue-book, Cd. 1,897, p. 858), you will find that Mr. Grant's last words to the Commission were that the circum- stances had altered very much since his first statement that the requirements of the mining industry could be met locally ; that, taking all the circumstances into consideration, he was of opinion there would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining labour; and that as to the requirements being met, he "should say not, unless there was a material change in the native world throughout the Continent." Mr. Grant's testimony is one of so much importance that I trust you will allow me to draw attention to his final verdict on the question of the
shortage.—I am, Sir, &c., VIOLET R. Manirlia2d. Tapton House, Chesterfield.
THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS.
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