§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been drawn to the recent increase of crime in Ceylon; whether he is aware that the Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon, in a speech to a deputation on the subject, referred, amongst other things, to "a delicate cause for it;" whether that "delicate cause" is the public licensing of vice; and, whether, having regard to the precedent of India, the Government will cause the repeal of all Acts licensing vice in Ceylon?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)The question of the increase of crime in Ceylon is now being inquired into by an experienced officer lent to the Ceylon Government by the Government of India. The Secretary of State cannot undertake to say what was in the mind of the Governor when using the expression referred to by the hon. Member. He spoke of "reasons many of them deep-seated, some of them obscure, some of them very delicate to mention." The Secretary of State has already directed the Governor to introduce an Ordinance repealing the Contagious Disease Ordinance as soon as possible. The subject will, no doubt, be brought up during the present Session of the Council, which was opened on October 31 last.