§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how long has the regulation been in force prohibiting other than persons of pure European descent from competing for the Civil Services of Ceylon; and whether he will give the 2130 exact terms of the old regulation and the alterations recently made by his Department?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)The Ceylon Civil Service is not confined to persons of pure European descent. Candidates for cadetships must be natural-born British subjects either (a) of pure European or Asiatic descent on both sides, or (b) of mixed European and Asiatic descent. The wording of this regulation was altered last year in order to make it clearer. Previously it had stated only that cadets must be natural-born British subjects of European or Asiatic descent. As regards the police force, the regulations issued when the system of competitive examination was introduced in 1908 slated that probationers must be of European descent. In order to obviate any possible ambiguity the clause was altered this year so as to read, "Every candidate must be a British subject of pure European descent on both sides."
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTWith reference to that part of the reply which deals with the police, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the rank and file are required to be of pure European descent?
§ Mr. HARCOURTNo, Sir.