§ Mr. PETOasked whether the Legislative Council in Ceylon has been dissolved; if so, how it is proposed to reconstitute it; and whether it is intended that in future there will be no member of the Legislative Council directly representing the interests of the European commercial community?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I am not aware whether the council has yet been dissolved but, if not, it will be dissolved very shortly in order that a reformed council may be appointed. The constitution of the new council is shown in the correspondence published last year in Cd. 5098 and 5427. The interests of the European commercial community will be adequately represented by the urban and rural European members, and there will be no member to represent that community alone.
§ Mr. PETOIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a strong feeling in Colombo, particularly among the European community who represent both the import 1888 and the export traders, that they ought to be represented specially on the council?
§ Mr. HARCOURTNo, Sir.
§ Colonel YATEConsidering that one of the seats was taken from the Europeans, will the right hon. Gentleman not take this opportunity of restoring the balance?
§ Mr. HARCOURTNo. A representative has not been taken away from the European community. One of the representatives of the Colomban Chamber of Commerce has represented firms of all nationalities.