§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made by Mr. Justice Lawrie at the Colombo Criminal Sessions on 24th January 1899, as to the issue of circulars by the Colonial Secretary of Ceylon to magistrates and others, which the Judge held to be more often than not irregular and illegal; and whether he will take measures to prevent interference of the executive of the Government of Ceylon with the judicial establishment of the island and the working of its criminal code?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESI have seen the report of the statement made by Mr. Justice Lawrie, but have no information beyond it. The Governor of Ceylon will shortly 1147 be in this country, and I will make inquiry from him on the subject.
§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Draft Ordinance printed in the "Ceylon Government Gazette" of 18th November 1898, and proposed as an amendment of the Ceylon Ordinance No. 1, 1897, has yet been submitted to Her Majesty's Government for approval; and whether, before the amending Ordinance receives the Royal sanction, it will be referred to the Law Officers of the Crown for their opinion?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESThe answer to the first question is "Yes"; and to the second that, as at present advised, I do not anticipate that it will be necessary to refer the Ordinance to the Law Officers.