Caes of Attempted Suicide Following Inhuman Treatment at West Gate That he became depressed as the' result of ill-treatment while a captive inthe Labour Union Headquarters at West Gate, was the story. told by a printer in the employ of foreign firm who was charged at the Mixed Court on the Sth with attempted suicide.
According to the man's story two men came to his house in Chapei and forced him to accompany them in a motor car to the headquarters of the Chapei Volunteers. They were told there that the Volunteers did not want anything to do with him and he was taken through the Settlement under restraint to the La-hour Union Headquarters near the West Gate. There he was badly assaulted with fists and forced to kneel down with his hands tied behind him while a placard was hung on his chest and a photograph was taken of him. He was told that the photographs were going to be distributed to show what was being done to people who worked for foreigrs. The unfortunate man was eventually told he would be let off $27. When he ssid he could not pay, he was informed that he-would have his hands "and cars: out off. Eventually he borrowed $10 from a friend-and was made to bond: saying that he would not work for foreign employers.
Mr. Ormsby-Gore, Urider-Seeretary of State for the Colonies, replying, said that, according to the best estimates of the situation and of the prospects for the plantation rubber industry, he could only reard the extent of the present rise a temporary movement. There appeared no ground at present for special inquiry or for proposing that the Ceylon and Malaya Governments should repeal their legislative measures. If there proved to be a real shortage in the course of the next few months, it would be possible to release the maximum production. There was no reason by growers should not increase production in anticipation of this. He was aware that, since the intro: duction of the restriction scheme, Dutch plantation of rubber had increased from fifteen to thirty-seven per cent. and that bulk rabber. in Which middle-men were gambling at 4/- a 1b, had been sold by the producer at between 1/6 and 1/10 a Ib. tive) the Government were Mr. R. Waddington (Conserva-
aware that producers were accumulating stocks with a view to termination of the Stevenson export res-frictions in February and asked if it were not in trade interests to permit more exports now 30 as to Prevent a slump in February.
Mr. Ormsby-Gore considered this to be too long as a supplementary question. He added that he had made a slip in a reply yesterday.
The whole matter was watched with the advice of the Expert Com mittes and while they agreed that the price was likely considerably to fall, they did not think abolition of modification of the Stevenson scheme would materially assist ther now or in a few months.
Replying to a suggestion "by Mr. J. H. Thomas (Labour) Mr. Ormasby-Gore said that he would eon: ex the advisability of an immediate Statement: with regard to the future—Reater. ction prohibited without permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.