§ MR. LAIDLAWI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if, in view of the desire amongst the better-class Chinese, and the ruin caused to numbers of their poorer fellow-countrymen, he will consider the question of refusing to sanction the continuance of the licensed gambling system after the present leases expire.
§ COLONEL SEELYI understand my hon. friend's Question to refer to the system in force in the Federated Malay States. I do not think that I can usefully add anything to the full statement made in this House by my 84 right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade on 3rd December, 1906. While desirous of ultimately putting an end to the system, the Secretary of State agrees with his predecessor that precipitate action would do more harm than good.
§ MR. LAIDLAWI beg to ask the Under-Secretaryof State for the Colonies what curtailment has been made in the area in which gambling licences are issued in the Federated Malay States, in accordance with the statement made by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in the House last year; and to what extent has the revenue been effected.
§ COLONEL SEELYIn so far as Perak and Pahang are concerned, my information extends only to the end of last year. Up to that time no action was possible as the term of the existing farms had not expired. In Selangor the Prohibition of Gaming Enactment was put into force from 1st January last throughout the State, except in some of the larger towns and villages. In the Negri Sembilan the Enactment was put into force in the Coast and Tampin districts on 1st January, 1907, the result being a decrease of 35 per cent, in the public gaming-houses in the State. I am unable to state the effect on the Revenue as the gaming farms are not let separately but in conjunction with other farms.