§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Royal Assent has been given to an Ordinance of the 596 Ceylon Legislative Council for the registration of Mahommedan marriages, whereby, for the first time in Ceylon, Imperial sanction has been given to polygamous marriages; and, whether a Memorial against the measure was addressed to the Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon, and was by him transmitted to the Colonial Office, prior to the Ordinance receiving the Royal Assent; if so, whether he will produce such Memorial, and, if not, if he will obtain it from the Colonial Authorities?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The Royal Assent has been given to an Ordinance passed in 1886, and to an amending Ordinance passed this year, by the Ceylon Legislative Council for the registration of Mahommedan marriages; but such Ordinances do not, for the first time, legalize Mahommedan polygamous marriages, the validity of such marriages having been previously recognized by the law of Ceylon. A Memorial addressed to the Secretary of State against these Ordinances was received and considered before the advice was given to Her Majesty to allow them to remain in operation. It would seem hardly worth while to present the Memorial to Parliament; but if, after seeing it at the Colonial Office, the hon. Member presses for it, it can be presented with the Correspondence thereon.