§ MR. LAIDLAW (Renfrewshire, E.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has received from His Majesty's High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States the Report asked for in August last regarding gaming licences; if so, can he now say what amount of annual revenue is derived from such licences; and if any steps are being taken to abolish licensed gambling in the Federated States.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe High Commissioners Report has now been received. It is not possible to state the exact amount of revenue derived from gaming licences, as the gambling farms have hitherto been leased in conjunction with other farms, but the average annual revenue from this source is estimated at about three million dollars. The Secretary of State is satisfied that the immediate abolition of licensed gambling is impracticable, but steps are being taken to restrict it as. far as possible, and to prepare the way for eventual abolition.