Mr. MONTAGUE BARLOWasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that about June last year a considerable number of English police-constables were engaged for service in Ceylon, and by the terms of the agreement entered into with them they were to have the rank and pay of police-sergeants; that on arrival many, if not all, of them, in breach of the terms of their engagement, were required to do point duty and other duty proper to constables and not sergeants; whether the duty of police-constables in Ceylon is, under ordinary circumstances, performed entirely by natives; and whether, seeing that a considerable number of the English constables who have been so treated have now returned to England, it is proposed to give them any compensation, and, if so, what, for the treatment they have received?
Mr. HARCOURTYes, Sir, a number of English police constables were engaged as police sergeants in Ceylon. Some of these men were, for good reasons, employed on duties which a constable could perform, but none were employed on any duties which a sergeant could not legitimately be expected to do. I understand that all police constables in Ceylon are now natives, but it was desirable that the European officers should have a higher rank—though the holding of this rank did not debar them from being employed on the special duties for which they were intended. The sergeants who wished to resign were allowed to do so at once. Not only was no claim made upon them for the refund of the bonus of £15 paid on enlistment and for the cost of their passage out, but they were given free passages home. There is no ground for granting any further compensation.