HC Deb 03 December 1906 vol 166 cc580-2
MR. LAIDLAW (Renfrew, E.)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will give the reasons why the immediate abolition of licensed gambling in the Federated Malay States is impracticable; and if he will also state within what period he expects this evil to be finally abolished.

The following (Questions also appeared on the Paper:—

MR. LAIDLAW

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Government of the Federated Malay States prohibit Malays, Tamils, and Englishmen from frequenting the gambling dons licensed by the aforesaid Government; and if he will state the reasons why the Chinese population is not placed under the same restrictions.

Mr. LAIDLAW

To ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware of the fact that the revenue of the Federated Malay States is largely in excess of expenditure, and that there is now an accumulated fund of $25,000,000 in the hands of the Government; and that no financial necessity exists for the $3,000,000 per annum derived from gambling licences.

MR. CHURCHILL

I will answer the hon. Member's throe (Questions together. The reason why the Chinese alone are allowed to gamble is that in the case of Chinese gambling is a national habit to an extent unknown among the other races inhabiting the Peninsula. Total prohibition is regarded by the best qualified, judges as impracticable at present in the case of Chinese, and the only alternative is to regulate the practice of gambling so that it may do as little harm as possible. In deciding that the immediate abolition of licensed gambling is impracticable, the Secretary of State and the Government of the Federated Malay States have not been governed by financial considerations. They are, however, satisfied that if gambling were at once prohibited the prohibition would be ineffectual. The licensed houses would be abolished, but their place would be taken by secret gambling hells, where gambling would be carried on without any restrictions now imposed, and in circumstances likely to lead to frequent quarrels and disturbances of the peace. Even in the small area of the Straits Settlements, where gambling is prohibited by law, it has been found to be impossible entirely to prevent the existence of such establishments, and the greater area and more scattered population of the Federated Malay States would render the task much more difficult there than it is in the neighbouring colony. There is also a practical certainty that the issue of a prohibition, which could not be made effective, would lead to the corruption of the native police forces by bribery and blackmail. In these circumstances, the Secretary of State considers it better to proceed slowly, and to en- deavour to accustom the Chinese population by degrees to the idea of prohibition. As regards the period within which it may be possible to effect a total abolition of licensed gambling, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave in this House on 28th November to the hon. Member for Hoxton.† I can suggest no exact date, but I can assure my hon. friend that His Majesty's Government are no less anxious than he is to put an end to the existing system as soon as it is possible to do so, without causing greater evils than those which it is desired to remove.