61. Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to an enactment recently passed by the Federal Council of the Federated Malay States to amend the Excise enactments of 1908 and 1909; whether he is aware that the amending enactment transfers the control of the issue of toddy shop licences 221 from the licensing board to the Resident or his delegate; whether he can give the reasons for this change; and whether he will state what arrangements have been made under the new enactment for the consultation of local opinion as to the number and situation of licences?
Mr. HARCOURTThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, though I would point out that the resident is bound by the law to consult the Licensing Board before granting exclusive rights to sell toddy. I presume that the change has been made for administrative convenience. Local opinion, as I have pointed out, must under the terms of the law be consulted before any exclusive right is granted.