§ MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Ceylon Government have now consented to the establishment of a port trust for Colombo; and, if not, will he explain why this has not been done.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The Secretary of State has received no communication from the Ceylon Government on this subject, but he shares the view which that Government is understood to hold, that it is premature to consider the question until the harbour works have been completed. There is an advisory Harbour Board on which representatives of the mercantile community have seats.
§ MR. SMEATONwas understood to ask why this port, the fifth largest in the world, was so badly managed.
§ MR. CHURCHILLreplied that he would convey the views of the hon. Member to the Secretary of State.