MR. CATHCART WASONI beg-to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been directed to a petition said to be signed by nearly all the leading Chinese gentlemen, merchants, tin miners, and shopkeepers, and also by many of the leading Europeans in the Federated Malay States, praying for prohibition of gambling houses; and if he can state on what grounds His Majesty's High Commissioner of said States has refused to accede to the prayer of the petition.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe petition referred to has been forwarded to the Secretary of State. The High Commissioner considers that the immediate abolition of licensed gambling is impracticable and that endeavours to enforce it would only lead to worse evils than those which it is desired to remove. The Secretary of State concurs in this view but, as I stated on 5th November,† in reply to the hon. Member for Renfrewshire (East), steps are being taken to restrict gambling as far as possible and to prepare the way for its eventual abolition.