HC Deb 17 July 1912 vol 41 cc370-1
20. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a draft Ordinance for the suppression of betting houses has been submitted to the Government of the Straits Settlements by the Singapore Sporting Club; whether this draft Ordinance contains a Clause to the effect that nothing in the Ordinance or in the Common Gaming Houses Ordinance, 1888, shall be deemed to apply or extend to any lotteries, totali-sators, or pari-mutuels, confined solely to their members, promoted by the Singapore Sporting Club or the Penang Turf Club; and whether the Government propose to act upon this suggestion?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)

I have seen in a local newspaper the draft of an Ordinance which is said to have been prepared by the Singapore Sporting Club, and which contains the Clause quoted by my hon. Friend. As to the third part of the question, I have no information.

21. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the speech of the Rev. G. F. Pykett, principal of the Anglo-Chinese school at Penang, in which he stated that since the withdrawal of the Queen's scholarships there was no use for the most distinguished pupils to stay on at school, there was nothing further for them to aim at, and so the Cambridge list lacks the classes and distinctions it had last year; and whether Mr. Pykett was one of the principals of the chief schools in the Straits Settlements who recommended the withdrawal of the Queen's scholarships?

Mr. HARCOURT

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative; as to the second part, I would refer him to the reply which I gave to his question on the 1st of May.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that several of the principals of these schools have published declarations stating that they were hostile to the withdrawal of the colleges?

Mr. HARCOURT

I cannot exactly commit myself, but I have no doubt my hon. Friend has satisfied himself on the point.