Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has now received the Report of the 1667W Governor of Ceylon concerning the issue of new toddy licences at Kalliliya in the Hapittigam Korale; whether his attention has been drawn to the affidavit made by the Reverend Walter James Noble, Wesleyan Methodist missionary in Ceylon, containing a copy of the official receipt for the rental of a portion of a burying-ground for the establishment of a new tavern at Kalliliya; and whether instructions will be issued which will prevent such action being taken by Government agents for the acquisition of sites for taverns in future?
Mr. HARCOURTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I was not previously aware of the affidavit to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am making further inquiries of the officer administering the Government. With regard to the last part of the question, formal and detailed instructions will be given to the Government agents, in the rules which it is proposed to introduce under the Ordinance, which will ensure that any objections to the site of a tavern will in every case be expressed and considered before the tavern is opened.