10. Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the auction sales of arrack rents for Ceylon have produced over £70,000 more for the year 1916–17 than for the previous year, and that every district shows an increase except 306 Negombo, Western Province; whether this is the only district where the temperance movement has continued in active existence; whether, throughout nearly the whole of Ceylon, temperance meetings have ceased to be held owing to the fear of the people of incurring the displeasure of the Government; and whether he can cause an announcement to be made that the Ceylonese may resume their temperance work with the approval of the Government?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law)I have not yet received the figures for the year 1916–17, but the Estimates for the current year show a decrease of Rs.550,000 in the revenue from arrack, rum, and toddy licences as compared with the previous year. The attitude of the Ceylon Government towards legitimate temperance work has been fully explained in the Legislative Council and in published correspondence, and I have no reason to believe that misapprehension now exists.
§ 11. Mr. GINNELLasked whether Mr. V. L. Samarasinghe, of Baddegama, Ceylon, a petition drawer by profession, and certified by Mr. Robert Bailey Hellings to have an excellent knowledge of English, is one of the persons whom he alleges to be illiterate and not responsible for his affidavit made before a magistrate on the 7th July, 1915, setting forth certain illegalities practised upon him by the military and police; whether the new trial ordered by Chief Justice Wood Renton in this man's case, on account of the conviction without evidence in the first trial, has yet been held; whether any form of redress has been given to Mr. Samarasinghe; and what explanation Sir Robert Chalmers has given of this case?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have read the affidavit in question. I have received no separate report in this case; but, since it appears that it received the careful consideration of the Chief Justice of Ceylon, I see no sufficient reason for intervening in the matter.