§ 86. Mr. FERENSasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether, when the Excise Commissioner of Ceylon proposed to sell new toddy licences in the Karunegala district, the plumbago mine-owners petitioned the Government not to issue the licences; whether, when the toddy taverns were established, the inhabitants of the village of Maduragoda, in the Karunegala district, burned down the toddy tavern in their village; whether another tavern was immediately opened in the said village; whether several stabbing affrays have occurred in this district which, according to evidence submitted in the Courts, are the result of toddy drinking; and whether he can take any steps to modify the policy of the Ceylon Government in introducing taverns into villages the inhabitants of which obviously do not desire them?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Secretary of State has no information as to the incidents referred to in the first four parts of the question, but, unfortunately, stabbing affrays resulting from toddy drinking have not infrequently occurred in the past. He has seen no evidence to suggest that they are more frequent now that licensed taverns are being introduced into places where illicit drinking was formerly prevalent. As regards the last part of the question, whether it 2097 is necessary that taverns should be retained in any particular place, can only be decided in the light of experience, and, as the Secretary of State has already stated in this House, local opinion will in future be consulted by means of the establishment of advisory committees. He would add that opposition to the establishment of taverns is, unfortunately, not always due to temperance principles. Opposition has been most marked in districts which were the most notorious centres of the liquor traffic.
§ 87. Mr. FERENSasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether, in the Ratna-pura district, the Ceylon Government several months ago sold over 100 new toddy licences; whether, nevertheless, only about twenty taverns have been established in this district; whether the inhabitants of Wattegama have in public meeting petitioned the Ceylon Government to remove the new taverns; whether, in the Sabaragamuwa province, fifteen toddy licences have been surrendered by the purchaser because they do not pay; what reason the Ceylon Government has for issuing licences in excess of any possible requirements of the neighbourhood and in the face of opposition on the part of the inhabitants; and whether he will order or advise an inquiry into these cases with a view of removing taverns from areas where the people are opposed to their establishment?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State is informed that the statement that over 100 licences were sold in the Ratnapura district is devoid of foundation. He is not aware of the actual number of licences issued. With regard to the third and fourth parts of the question, he has no information. There is no evidence that the Government of Ceylon has issued any licences that are not required. It is, of course, possible that mistakes have been made, but, if so, they will be remedied at the earliest opportunity. My hon. Friend may rest assured that His Majesty's Government and the Government of Ceylon fully share his desire to reduce the consumption of alcohol in Ceylon, but they consider that that end will best be served by maintaining licensed taverns rather than by allowing a reversion to the old system under which illicit sales were rife. The Secretary of State does not consider that a further inquiry would serve any useful purpose at present.