§ 20. Mr. MAXTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received the report on the recent strike at Trincomalee; and, if so, whether he will state the contents of the report?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, Sir. I have not yet received the report promised by the Governor of Ceylon concerning the strike at Trincomalee, but I gather that it is now settled.
§ Mr. MAXTONSurely the right hon. Gentleman can get some information on this matter, from one of His Majesty's Dominions, in less than six weeks; or shall I have to tell these fellows that they will have to use guns and shoot someone before they will be able to get relief?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI think that that is rather hard. Immediately the hon. Member put down his earlier question I wrote for information. When the hon. Member put down another question, I telegraphed to the Governor at Colombo, and he is making inquiries. I can find no reports in the local newspapers, the files of which I have had examined, and I have no information at all until I get a report from the Governor. I think it is only right that the report should be awaited, but it is nearly three weeks by boat.