Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Director of Education for the Straits Settlements has ever advised the abolition of the Queen's scholarships; whether the abolition of these scholarships was carried against his advice; and whether the principals of the leading schools in the Colony or the Director of Education are to be considered the chief educational authorities?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely, for Mr. Harcourt)As regards the first two parts of the question, the Secretary of State has no information. The third question seems to raise a matter of opinion.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTDoes not the Report of the Director of Education afford official information to the Secretary for the Colonies?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State says that he has no information, but if my hon. Friend will put a further question to him I have no doubt it will receive attention.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether any attempt has been made to affiliate the Straits Settlements Medical School with any of the British universities in the same way as the Ceylon Medical College is affiliated; how many students presented themselves at the last examination for diplomas at the Straits Medical School; how many of them failed to obtain diplomas; whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that at the presentation of diplomas in December last Dr. Keith, the principal of the school, called attention to the number of failures and stated that they were due to the lack of a proper teacher of surgery in the school; whether he is aware that there is no hospital in Malaya which possesses a properly equipped operating theatre, and that there is dissatisfaction throughout the Colony at the absence of any Government encouragement to the development of efficient surgery; and whether the Government proposes to take any action?
§ Colonel SEELYAs regards the first four parts of the question, the Secretary of State has no information. As regards the fifth, he can only say that he has had no complaint as to the lack of facilities for operations or the absence of Government encouragement to the development of efficient surgery. The Government of the Colony may be relied upon to take whatever action may be considered necessary in the interests of the health of the community.
§ Sir JOHN JARDINEasked whether there is any proposal by the Government of the Straits Settlements to put export taxes on india-rubber or any other exported produce from the territories under that Government; and whether this will require legislation?
§ Colonel SEELYThe Secretary of State has heard nothing of any such proposal. No tax could be imposed except by an Ordinance of the Colonial Legislature.
§ Mr. NEWMANWould it not be fairer to put an Increment Duty on the profits, of men who gamble in rubber shares?
§ Colonel SEELYI do not think that arises out of the question. The Government have no knowledge of any such proposal as is referred to in the question.