2
9 I and my advisers regard the separation of the vend of arrack and toddy as the first and most essential step that inust be taken if a reform in the existing most unsatisfactory liquor system is to be attempted.
10 In this connections, I would refer you to paragraphs 15 to 25 of the Report of the Excise Commissioners contained in Sessional Paper 1.of 1911. of which 1 enclose a copy.* and also to pages 71, 72, and 73 of the local Hansard “ for 1912. containing the Colonial Secretary's speech of April 15th.
11 Nordless to say, this measure has proved unpopular among arrack renters. who fear to see the sale of their spirit decrease through the less potent and less harmful liquor being enabled for the first time to compete with it on an equal and regularised footing, but until the separation of the vend of arrack and foddy be effected, no adequate control over the latter can be established, and arrack will, Further, until the as heretofore, continue to be pushed at the expense of toddy. manufacture, distribution, and sale of toddy has been properly regulated, it will be vain to attempt to regulate or discourage the consumption
12 The redistribution of arrack taverns has given the following results, the establishment of taverns being entirely regulated by the existing consumption
Province
Number of taverns at prement.
Propues!
Proposed to
to be Atudi-hod
be added.
Nett result after adjustment
Remarks.
3
14. It must be borne in mind that, theoretically, toddy was obtainable at every arrack tavern, though, in practice, it was not offered for sale in many taverns, since the financial results of selling arrack were more satisfactory from the point of view of the tavern keeper. On the other hand, the number of places where fermented toddy was manufactured and sold without any supervision or control whatever was very great, and no tavern for the sale of fermented toddy is being established in any part of the country where there is not already a considerable proved consumption going on without any supervision, regulation, or control.
12. The operations of the new preventive staff will only gradually make itself themselves, felt, but the first step which is being taken is to authorise the establish- ment of a comparatively small number of places where fermented toddy can be obtained legally under proper regulation and supervision, to replace a much larger number of places where at the present time it is being sold illicitly without any such regulation.
16. I fully recognise that the cost of these reforms, both in the direction of immediate loss of revenue and of increased expenditure, will be considerable betweeen Rs 600,000 and Rs. 750,000, it is estimated, during the financial year 1912 13 but I consider that this is a sacrifice which must be cheerfully faced if Government is to recognise its moral obligation to make a beginning in the direction of dealing with the evil of drink in this Colony. Under existing conditions, and if the system so long in force be suffered to continue, that evil can never be subjected to elicient control.
Western
Central...
260
12
254
Decrease of 6.
50
2
15
72
Increase of 13.
Northern
63
19
51
Decrease of 12.
Southern
132
6
10
Eastern
72
57
2. 15.
North-Western
34
185
Increase of 30
10
3.
North Central ..
7
14
Uva
16
2
16
Sabaragain awa
XI
11
Q2
Same. Increase of 11.
Total
845
60
82
367
Increase of 22.
I have, &c.,
HENRY MCCALLUM,
Governor, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
│ ༴། ་། ་།「 ་། །
Reference :-
C.O. 882
ORDINANCE enacted by the Governor of Ceylon, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof.
No. 8 of 1912.
AN ORDINANCE to provide for the Introduction of an Excise System. HENRY MCCALLUM.
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Preamble import, export, transport, manufacture, sale, and possession of intoxicating liquor and of intoxicating drugs: Be it therefore enacted by the Governor of Ceylon, by and with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1912.
I.-Preliminary and Definitions.
1.—(1) This Ordinance may be cited as "The Excise Ordinance, No. 8 of Rhort title
(2) It shall not come into operation until His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies has notified that it is not the intention of His Majesty to exercise his prerogative of disallowance in respect thereof, and thereafter shall come into operation within such areas and upon such dates as the Governor, by Proclama- tion in the Government Gazette," shall appoint.
and com.
mencement.
2. From the date on which this Ordinance comes into force within any local Repeal of area the Ordinances specified in the schedule hereto annexed shall be repealed within enactments. such area to the extent specified in the third column of the said schedule.
Provided that nothing in the said repeal shall affect any exclusive privilege, licence, permit, or pass granted or issued before the coming into operation of this Ordinance under or with reference to any Ordinance hereby repealed; but with respect to all matters arising out of any such privilege, licence, permit, or pass, and the rights, obligations, and liabilities of the grantee or holder thereof, in so far as any Ordinance hereby repealed applies thereto, such repealed Ordinance shall con- tinue to apply as though the same were still in force.
3. In this Ordinance, unless there be something repugnant in the subject or Interpre-
context-
**
tation.
(1) "Excise revenue means revenue derived or derivable from any duty, Excise
fee, tax, fine (other than a fine imposed by a court of law), or confis- revenue, cation imposed or ordered under the provisions of this Ordinance or of any other law for the time being in force relating to liquor or intoxi- cating drugs.
13.
Northern Province:
The latest figures with regard to toddy taverns are as follows:- Western Province:
Colombo
Kalutara
Central Province:
Kandy
Matale
Nuwara Eliya
Jaffna
253
39
188
48
18
135
Mannar
24
Mullaittivu
18
Southern Province:
Galle
47
Matara
39
+Hambantota
40
Eastern Province:
Batticaloa
Trincomalee North-Western :
Kurunegala Chilaw
Puttalam
North Central:
Anuradhapura
Uca Province:
+ Badulla
Total
45
7
35
50
16
:
70
:
1,072
• Paragraphs 15 to 23 only reprinted. ↑ Approximate.
May be less, as some not sold.
38487
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO |