§ 22. Mr. FERENSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Ceylon is this year offering licences for the sale of arrack and toddy for a period of fifteen months instead of twelve months, as heretofore; what is the reason for this change of policy; and whether, in view of the feeling in Ceylon on the subject, he will issue instructions that licences shall be restricted to twelve months, as has hitherto been the case?
Mr. HARCOURTLicences are issued in Ceylon for the period of the financial year. This has previously run from 1st July to 30th June, but it will in future run from 1st October to 30th September. The present financial year ends on 30th June, 1913, and it is, therefore, necessary that the next financial period should cover fifteen instead of twelve months, i.e., from 1st July, 1913, to 30th September, 1914. It is clearly desirable that there should be uniformity in all matters relating to the accounts of the Colony, and I do not, therefore, see any reason to interfere with the action which they have taken.