PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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TILTIC.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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This would mean that toddy would be sold for one-third be sold for about 64d. retail. the price of arrack, taking the alcoholic content as the basis of valuation. The result is obvious. A poorer stratum of society will be exploited by the toddy shop- keeper-villagers and labourers who cannot afford the luxury of arrack, or even that of toddy, at the old price.
But granting, for the sake of argument, that toddy shops are necessary to stop illicit production of toddy in the remote and isolated districts, where alone such illicit practices prevail unchecked, it does not follow that 1.300 of such shops are needed, dotted all over the Island indiscriminately-in thickly populated towns, as well as in remote villages. Not even the Excise Commissioners have had the temerity to assert that illicit production of toddy is common in a town like Colombo. Why In the District of Chilaw over fifty then set up thirty toddy shops in that town?
shops have been established. The majority of its inhabitants are Christians, and hence Christian missionaries would know full well the district and the requirements of its inhabitants. Four meetings have been held in this district denouncing the opening of the toddy shops. In all these meetings Christian missionaries, European and native, took part, and they have, all of them, without a single exception, declared that toddy was not prevalent in that district, and therefore these newly-licensed houses were not wanted. In the Province of Sabaragamuwa over 250 shops were exposed for sale, and only 150 were sold, as the rest did not find any bidders. The average rent realised for the 150 shops sold amounted to only £6 13s. 4d. per shop This amount is so ridiculously small that it conclusively proves our contention that the illicit sales in these districts did not warrant the establishment of such a large number of licensed houses. The instances I have cited will go far to show how utterly inadequate have been the data on which the local Government have embarked on such a radical change of excise policy-a change which has been effected without any warning to the public and without the sanction of the Legis-
per annum
lature.
The Association I represent is deeply concerned in the interests of the coconut palm products. We maintain that a definition of arrack in the Ordinance, as sug- gested by us, is indispensable to prevent fraudulent adulteration of a spirit which has only one meaning in the Colony. The reasons for such a definition have been In addition to this I beg to urge that the fully set forth in my memorandum. definition of toddy as specified in the Ordinance is inadequate. No mention of its We maintain that the maximum alcoholic strength at alcoholic strength is given. which toddy is permitted to be sold is highly essential in the interest of the public as well as that of revenue. It is widely feared in Ceylon that with the advent of the new system, a new evil, from which the old system was singularly exempt, is likely to spring into existence, i.e., illicit distillation of arrack in the toddy shops. This will enable the shopkeepers to sell mixtures of arrack and toddy under the name of toddy at a cheaper retail rate than arrack at the neighbouring taverns.
With reference to the questions of local option and Government ownership of central distilleries, I have nothing to add to what has been so well and concisely expressed by the speaker on behalf of the Native Races and the Liquor Traffic United Committee, with whose remarks I have to add that I am in agreement in every parti- cular.
In conclusion, we beg to express our thanks to you, Sir, for the kind courtesy extended to us in giving us this opportunity of a personal interview, for discussing & question so pregnant with possibilities of weal or woe to the future of Ceylon. I have already indicated how complex and intricate are some of its details, and of the nature and extent of the diversity of opinion which prevails between the Government sup- porters of the scheme and those of its critics. Last year, when the question of the higher education of the Colony had reached a similar impasse—when the views of the local Executive met with strong disapproval from the majority of educationalists——— when an acrimonious and bitter controversy was being sustained in the Press, you saved the situation by your statesmanlike and prompt intervention in appointing a representative local Committee of Official and Unofficial Members, with the help of an expert from England, to investigate the whole question. For this intervention the inhabitants of the Island are deeply grateful to you, and they look forward with confidence that in this matter as well you will again exert your influence, and be pleased to direct the appointment of a similar Commission in Ceylon to consider the various details of the excise scheme, which has been ushered into being with inex- plicable haste and without adequate time for public discussion and criticism.
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Sir HERBERT ROBERTS: I now call upon Mr. D. B. Jayatilaka, representing the Buddhist community, and late Principal of the Buddhist College at Colombo.
Mr. JAYATILAKA: Sir, I have the honour to represent the views and interests of the Buddhists of Ceylon, who form the bulk of the people of the Island. As I find your time is limited I shall be very brief with regard to the remarks I have to make. In the first place, I would like to associate myself with what has already been said in regard to our attitude towards excise reform. As to the necessity there is for reform we are all in entire agreement with the local Government. (Hear, hear.) In fact we are of opinion that the system now in vogue should have been done away with long ago. We have, therefore, no hesitation in giving full credit to the present Adminis tration for grappling with this very difficult problem. At the same time we hold that the Government did not set about this important task in the right way. No question of such vital importance to every member of the community has been before the Government in recent times. But at no stage of its long course of investigations and deliberations did the Government take the people fully into its confidence. ignored public opinion and showed itself very impatient and intolerant of all criticism and opposition to any part of its scheme. It is now clear that the Government has miscalculated the strength, and misunderstood the origin and character, of that oppo- sition. In the preparation of its scheme, the Government has relied solely on official enquiries, and one cannot peruse the reports of these official investi- gators without feeling that the question has not been viewed and studied Consequently, there is the greatest impartially from all possible standpoints. possible disagreement between the Government and the public in regard to several points of the highest importance. These points have already been submitted to you. I would only add, if I may do so, a few remarks on two of these points, by way of amplifying and emphasizing what has already been said.
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The local Government, it seems, propose, as a part of its reform plans, the We view this proposal with serious establishment of arrack distilleries of its own. alarm, for we feel convinced that, should the Government, for whatever reasons, acquire a direct interest in the production of liquor, that will deal a death blow to all hopes of checking and restraining the drinking evil in the Island. (Hear, hear.) Under such circumstances official influence may range itself on the side of the liquor trade, and all efforts in the direction of temperance will have to overcome not only private opposition, but also the vested interests of the Government. There is one other reason against this proposal which I would respectfully submit for your con- sideration with all the earnestness I can command, for though it may sound senti- mental, it is, I venture to think, of the gravest importance, and it is this. If the Government embarks on this enterprise, the step is bound to have the very serious effect of lowering the dignity and prestige of the British Government in the eyes of our people. In this connection it must be remembered that Ceylon is a Buddhist Now Buddhism, country. It may be aptly described as the home of Buddhism. strictly speaking, prohibits the use of all intoxicants; more than that, it condemns as a low, vicious, and unrighteous occupation the manufacture and sale of any kind of intoxicating drink or drug. This principle was strictly observed by the Sinhalese kings of old, not one of whom ever had anything to do, directly or indirectly, with the manufacture or sale of liquor. (Hear, hear.) These facts of history are remem- bered by our people, and it will give a very severe shock, indeed, to the ideas which they habitually associate with the duties of sovereignty if they ever find that the British Government has established distilleries of its own for the manufacture of arrack. Every act of Government is generally regarded by our people as an expression of the King's will and pleasure, carried into execution by his servants. Such being the case, what the moral effect of this proposal will be, if it is really carried out, can be easily imagined. For one thing, it will most certainly impair those feelings of personal attachment, devotion, and reverence with which our people have ever been used to look up to the British Throne, as the fountain head of all that is good and noble, and the source of everything that is calculated to promote the well- being of those who owe allegiance to it.
With your permission, Sir, I would now proceed to say a few brief words on the omission in the Government scheme to provide for any form of local option. This omission is very significant in view of the fact that under the Madras excise system, which is, I believe, due to the efforts of Sir Herbert Roberts, several local Com- mittees have been formed and are doing excellent work. The omission is perhaps
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