§ SIR EDWARD WATKIN (Hythe)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office propose to instruct the new Governor of Ceylon, Sir Arthur Havelock, to investigate the incidence of the Paddy Tax upon the food supplies of Ceylon, and to report how far the statements that the people of the country are on "half-rations "of food, and that evictions by the Government have led to starvation of the people and to disease and death, are well founded, and to suggest any remedy?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de Worms,) Liverpool, East ToxtethThe Secretary of State will certainly direct Sir A. Havelock's particular attention to this serious matter, although it is hoped that the results of a very careful investigation will have been received before he assumes the Government.