HC Deb 21 December 1938 vol 342 cc2878-80
53. Captain Alan Graham

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the nature, composition, and policy of the Sinhala Maha Sabha party in Ceylon?

Mr. M. MacDonald

From the particulars furnished in a memorandum submitted to me by this society, I understand that the Sinhala Maha Sabha is a political body formed in 1936 to safeguard the legitimate interests of the Sinhalese and to work for the general advancement of the Sinhalese race. Its membership includes 16 members of the State Council, and it is said to have a number of branch associations throughout Ceylon.

55. Mr. Grant-Ferris

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that it is in the public interest that the Minister of Home Affairs in Ceylon should remain in charge of his Ministry after having been disbelieved by an impartial tribunal whose appointment he had approved?

Mr. MacDonald

I am not aware that the Minister for Home Affairs has indicated his desires as to the retention or resignation of his office. He has a signal record of distinguished service for Ceylon, and I am not prepared to prejudge his intentions before I know what they are or on what public considerations they may be based.

60. Captain Peter Macdonald

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state when the correspondence with the Governor of Ceylon on the subject of the Constitution is to be published?

Mr. MacDonald

The correspondence is being published as a Command Paper this afternoon, and I understand that it will be in the Vote Office at about five o'clock.

Captain Macdonald

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that, before any action is taken on that correspondence or the recommendations contained in it, the House will have an opportunity of discussing the matter?

Mr. MacDonald

Yes, Sir; if the House wishes to take advantage of an opportunity, I certainly give that assurance.

62. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Tamil labourers who would be denied the right to exercise the franchise in future village committee elections in Ceylon under the amended Village Communities Ordinance; and what is the proportion of this number to the total Indian Tamil population in the country?

Mr. MacDonald

I have not the information available which would enable me to answer this question, but I am asking the Governor whether he can give an estimate. I will communicate further with the hon. Member on the matter.

Mr. Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this limitation, which affects both Tamil labourers and others, is in the best interests of Ceylon?

Mr. MacDonald

I am satisfied that it is a perfectly proper provision, the facts being that estate labourers receive their roads and their social services, sanitary services, and so on, under a different authority altogether from the village committees.

Mr. Smith

Is it not a fact that, when this proposal was before the State Council, a good deal of opposition to it was expressed?

Mr. MacDonald

Yes, Sir; there was opposition expressed, as is always the case when any proposal comes before any council.

63. Mr. Smith

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, under the Village Communities Ordinance in Ceylon, there are to be special registers for village committee elections?

Mr. MacDonald

Under the Village Communities Ordinance, the preparation of a register of voters is not obligatory.