§ SIR J. JARDINEI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the result of the inquiry made by the Acting Colonial Secretary of Ceylon in regard to the licences or rents paid for the sale of opium; and whether the system of high licensing has now been adopted, and with what results to the Colonial revenue and the consumption of opium by the people of Ceylon.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The Secretary of State has received no official information on the subject of the first Question. During the last two years I understand the imports of opium into Ceylon have decreased and the estimated receipts from opium licences have increased.
§ SIR J. JARDINEI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether at the end of last century there were no licensed opium shops in the northern parts of Ceylon nor in the towns of Jaffna, Manaar, and Trincomalee ; and whether the system of licensing shops for the sale of opium has lately been introduced there.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Secretary of State has not received any information on the subject.
§ SIR J. JARDINEI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at a recent meeting of the Ceylon Legislative Council most of the non-official members voted in favour of a resolution for closing all the licensed opium shops and confining the sale of opium to medical dispensaries, on the ground that there are practically no Chinese residents in Ceylon; and whether these proposals are approved by the Government of Ceylon.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Secretary of State has not received any communication from the governor on the subject, but his attention shall be directed to the point raised by my hon. friend.