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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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was suffering from some confusion of mind as to the relative duties on cach, but I shall be perfectly prepared to discuss with Honourable Members cachi can of these sub sections, and if they can show that in any way the Legislature 1- Javing its powers usurped by the Executive, if they will point that out, we shall give it tipst catetul consideration, because that is not the intention of the delines the powers and duties of theers under the Lapter V11!

They are extensive, but I think the liberty of the subject is adequately Ahapter 1N lays dow to the penalties which may be inflicted for breaches At the Ordination Chapter N is miscellaneatis, and the most fortant is Section 56, which gives to the Gaerner in Executive Con if the power, wholly or partially, to exempt any excisable artile from the provisions of this Ordinative

But I would ask Honourable Members to recognis And now, Sir, I have done.

and as I think your ch the macerat much opgerobriam and abursa that this Government wabagno; with near the ta eat a great deal of criticism which had not theadvantage

• la bowling dhe psely what our proposals wete las ventured contageously to attack atlant is aluntti diy are unmensely pmportant and an intensely difficult question. Our eventual edgest is to se ure a complete control over the importation, maufacture, distribution, sale, and eventually the consumption of intoxicating liquors in this Cabony No proposal that I have seen begins to make a beginning towards the artaiment of that most desirable mud, except this system which I have explained. 1 apologise for having so long to von at I fear, to great length this afternoon trespassed upon your tim but I venture to think that the importance of this matter. ted only to orales, but to the generations that will eve after us in this Odomy the absolute necessity, the nogal obligation that is upon us all to take steps in this matter, no matter hera dilli alt, no matter how keen, or how unenlightened the oppo- sation we may excite justified the in detaining you to an unusual hour, and also justitied me in stating once and for all that Government is trying honestly, and to the very best of its ability, "to do its duty by the people of this Colony, whose moral and physical weltare, so far as it can coûted them, is its most sacred care and duty; and I ask, therefore, that what I have sand to day shall be pondered upon after wards by all of von caluly, with open minds, and that you will try to see how sincerely anxions we are to deal with this question on lines that will be for the permatuent benefit of the whole population of this Island, and then we can feel certain that, when the question is properly understood, as I hope now it will be. we can rely upon the support, not only of Honourable Members here to day, but of those who have been our confessed opponents up to the present moment. (Much applause a

The lion the Arring CONTROLLER or RIVENTE seconded the motion that the Bill be read a second time

Adjournment.

His ExoUENCY THE GOVERNOR morrow afternoon

I adjourn this meeting until 2 o'clock to-

TerSDAY, Arut. 16, 1912. Excise Ordinance.

The debate on the second reading of the Excise Bill was then resumed. The Hon the First Low COUNTRY SINHALESE MEMBER I wish to make a few observations with regard to this Bill, Sir. The avowed object of Government in passing this Bill is to have an etherent control over the production, manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and consumption of intoxicating or spirituous liquors. Now, Sir, this is a subject that has been agitating the minds of alf of us for a con- siderable length of time, and we are extremely thankful to our Government for having taken the hold step of meeting the want we are always complaining of, namely, the provision of proper regulations to check the consumption of arrack We have gone through a large without materially prejuicing the general revenue.

number of reports the report of Mr. Ravenscroft of May 25, 1885, and that of Mr Ellis, of October 12, 1897, both of which appear in Sessional Paper XXXI. of 1×97; then there is Mr. Crawford's report of August 29, 1998; and lastly, we have To avoid any waste had Messrs Thurley and Horsburgh's report of July 16, 1910.

of time by making any unnecessarily lengthy speech, I would simply refer everybody who is anxions to know the history of this measure to those reports. It is with a feeling of thankfulness that we find ourselves on the high road to effect the object we have had so long in view, but the only fear I have is that the means which we

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adopt may not achieve the egal we have in view, and I say this. Sir, with reference only to two points, namely the absetive of a guarantee that the consumption jer Lead of intoxicating buiots will not be less under the proposed arrangement That is merely my tear, and it is a tear shared by a large number of people of this country, and that apprehension we attribute to the possible, even the probable. the rease in the number of taverns, thus banging attack within more easy reach ot the purple It is a salget upon which ther. is a great difference of opinion, and 1 am not singular in the view holl 1 have the support of for less a person than redues as ash as jossible the the late Sir Wilham Ginery that it is desirabe 1 number of tavernis He says in his Addre to the logislative Council on September 25, 1-72

There is ete schijeet more on which I cannot be silent, and that is, the extension of drunkenness throughout the Island English rule has given to Cevion many blessings, which the inhabitands me ever ready to acknow ledge curity of hie and property, equality before the law, and just tribunals, the addition of sortdom, excellent pads to promote intercourse and faciate the convevance of produce but we have at the same time extended a curse throughout the Pland, which weighs heavily in the other scale, nately, drunkenties. Some years ago, as I am informed, a drunken Now the Kandyan would have been disgraced in the eves of his fellows. DeCurrence is so common that the disgrace has passed away: drunkenness is extending itself gradually into villages where it was before unheard of, and even the women are accustoming themselves to intoxicating drink

Now, Sir, villagers are those with whom I am most concerned.

I have had some remarkable petitions on this subject the first, from the Roman Catholics of Jafina and other parts of the Northern Province, Another petition was Tumerously signed by Europeans and natives alike.

presential to me by the Reverend Mr. Scott, signed by no less than 16.119 Sinhalese. ~,595 Tamils. These 32.38986 petsas 73-2 Englisha petitions. I am glad to inform you, are characterised by moderation and good They do not go to the length of advocating the total prohibition of

the sale od spirituons liquors The petitioners are aware that such an attempt would be impossibile. But they say Restrict the places of sale, and thus dis- Courage intoxication, and diminish the great moral and social evils which flow from it

** In these recommendations,”

Governor Gregory says,

I warmly corent. In restricting the sale of intoxicating liquors some dimiuation of revenue must be expected,

this runs through many of these reports, Sir,

but. in the words of the petitioners, any decrease under that head would be more than compensated by an improvement in the general well being of the community, and in the reduced cost of establishments for the suppression and punishment of crime.

In corroboration of this argument. I may mention that in the majority of cases where the sentence of capital punishment has been pronounced, and which have been referred to me, arrack has been connected with the crime. It is my intention, with the assent of the Executive Council, to issue a circular to the Government Agents to contract as far as possible, at the commence- ment of the year, the sale of intoxicating liquors, and to prevent its extension into the rural districts. It is said that with prohibition private sale of liquor and private tippling will take the place of public sale. expect to shut out altogether ardent spirits from these districts, but the occasional introduction of small quantities of arrack for private use is a very different thing from the effects of arrack taverns flaring and flaunting in The dread of the the public view, and, as it were, soliciting all comers. informer will in some degree suppress the illicit sale of arrack, but what I chiefly rely on is the absence of ever ready, ever exposed temptation.

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No doubt we cannot

When in the year 1843 Sir James Graham put down with a stern hand the gambling houses of London, it was confidently asserted that if men were disposed to gamble no legislation could prevent them,”

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