§ MR. LAIDLAWI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that dissatisfaction exists in Ceylon at the Government's interference with private enterprise in repairing merchant ships and undertaking other private and public works, and that the competition of the Government workshops is considered very unfair to traders who contribute largely to the revenue of the Colony, whereas the former pay no rates, taxes, or duties on imported materials; 1036 and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
§ COLONEL SEELYNo representations have been received from Ceylon on the subject. As I informed my hon. friend on 10th November, the Ceylon Government have only proposed to undertake ship-repairing work because they failed after prolonged negotiations to arrive at satisfactory terms with local firms for the provision of the necessary workshops. The answer to the last Question is in the negative.