25. Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that, before the adoption of the new Excise scheme in Ceylon, the price of toddy varied from 10 to 25 cents per bottle, whilst under the new scheme the minimum price is fixed at 7 cents per bottle; and, in view of the alleged fact that the new regulations are already resulting in an increase of the consumption of toddy, whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the raising of the minimum price to check this increasing consumption?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The minimum price now fixed by regulations is as stated, but the Secretary of Stale has no reason to think that it is the usual selling price at present. He has no figures as to the cost of toddy before the introduction of the new system, but he would point out that any comparison between the present price and the past price of toddy sold in taverns is of little value. The sales at the new licensed taverns will take the place of former illicit sales as to which it is of course impossible to obtain any figures. As regards the second part of the question, the Secretary of State would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which he gave on the 16th of October to the hon. Member for East Hull.
26. Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that at a meeting on the 26th October, 1912, of the (European) Passara Planters' Association, Ceylon, the planters stated that the new toddy taverns were already injuriously affecting the 2276 Tamil coolies at work on the plantations, and that in consequence the output of some estates was falling; whether he is aware that in one instance, at Passara, a tavern was placed on the muster ground of the coolie lines, and that the planters stated that whilst the Government agent had promised to consult them before establishing new toddy taverns he had entirely failed to do so; whether he is aware that the Passara planters, by resolution, asked the Ceylon Government that, before a tavern was placed within two miles of the boundaries of any estate, the estate managers should be consulted; and whether, pending the establishment of the proposed advisory committees, steps will be taken to meet the desire of the planters' to protect their coolies from drunkenness, and to ensure that toddy licences shall only be issued where the circumstances are such as to warrant their issue?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State has no information with regard to the first three parts of the question. As regards the fourth part, he can only say that the Government of Ceylon assures him that it has taken every precaution to ensure that licences will only be issued when they are required by circumstances. It is, of course, almost inevitable that some mistakes should be made on the introduction of a new system, but if any have been made the Colonial Government may be trusted to remedy them at the earliest opportunity.