§ MR. SUMMERBELL (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that the, the Sunday Labour Ordinance, 1892, in the Straits Settlements, giving to the officers and crews on board ship a day of rest when in the ports under the control of the Legislative Council, has proved highly satisfactory; whether it is now proposed to amend such Ordinance by allowing full or part labour on Sunday, and thus calling upon officers and crews to forego the complete day of rest on Sundays enjoyed hitherto; and, if so, can he state whether it is his intention to resist such change, especially in view of the hardship such change will entail on the officers and crews of ships trading there.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Report of the Committee has only just been received, and the Secretary of State is not yet in a position to form an opinion on it, though it is evident that it raises questions of considerable importance. The Committee do not recommend that the main provisions of the Ordinance should be re- 48 pealed, and in any case no steps will be taken locally without the concurrence of the Secretary of State.