The Archbishop of Canterbury, who took part in the debate,
said that while the Ordinance had jarred upon him whichever way he looked at it, he had satisfied himself in regard to two essential conditions that there was no ground for complaint. Every safeguard had been pro- vided against fraudulent enlistment, and there was nothing approaching to slavery in the life led by the coolies. But the difficult and delicate question of morality was entirely overlooked in the Blue-book, though it was constantly dwelt upon and discussed when the subject of Chinese immigration came up before the Commission of 1854. He had tried to look at the whole subject honestly and judge it without bias, but had found it beset with the greatest difficulties, and he was far from being happy or satisfied at such a thing being done at all, and desired to have fuller information than the House at present had. Lord Stanmore observed that good physical treatment was not everything ; and declared that if the same laws with regard to Chinese immigration prevailed in South Africa as were enforced in other Colonies, the Chinese would not be counted by thousands, or hundreds, or even scores. Lord Lansdowne, who closed the debate, repeated the stock arguments in support of the Ordinance. The importation of Chinese coolies was an experiment which needed careful watching, and which had been resorted to as the only means of preventing the collapse of the central industry of the Transvaal.
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