Issue of Ration Books 12. Mr. Samarakkody asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Food: (a) Is he aware that people have to wait in the queue the whole day to obtain their ration books after submitting affidavits? (b) Will he see that the ration books are issued with the least possible delay ? Mr. Kumaraswamy: (a) The period of waiting depends on the number of persons in the queue which may even be 500. Some inquiries have to be made in every case as it is not possible to just issue ration books over the counter as it were. (b) Yes. Inefficient Bus Services 13. Mr. D. B. R. Gunawardena asked the Minister of Transport and Works: (a) Is he aware that due to the inefficiency of the bus services operating in the suburbs of Colombo, school children get late to school and employees in the City of Colombo are delayed in arriving at their places of work as a result of which they have been dismissed or their wages cut? (b) Will he take immediate steps to remedy this by instructing the bus operators to run buses according to schedule time and to put more buses on the road particularly during the rush hours? (c) Will he instruct the bus operators to display at important halting places a schedule of the time of arrival and of departure of the buses that ply on that particular route? The Hon. Sir John Kotelawala (Minister of Transport and Works and Leader of the House): (a) Owing to the large increase in road traffic and resultant actute congestion on the roads in the suburbs of Colombo, it is not uncommon for travellers both by car as well as bus to take a longer time to reach their destinations than they did in the past. There are, no doubt, deficiencies in the bus services, which the Commissioner of Motor Traffic is doing his best to eliminate. (b) Steps have already been taken. (c) This can be done, but the local authorities in whose areas the halting places are situated, will have to [Hon. Mr. Nugawela] week, on Wednesday and Saturday. In addition, there is a central dispensary in the Irrigation Department camp, in charge of a permanent resident apothecary. Medical facilities are available to the public day and night at this dispensary. (b) The first set of colonists numbering 833 families will be moving into the colony in October, 1953, and action is being taken to establish a central dispensary to serve the needs of these colonists. Government Dispensary, Nugegoda 19. Mr. D. B. R. Gunawardena asked the Minister of Health: (a) Is he aware that the road leading to the Government dispensary at Nugegoda has been obstructed by the owner of the premises? (b) Will (b) Will he take immediate steps to have the obstruction removed? The Hon. Mr. Nugawela: (a) Yes. (b) The dispensary is now situated on the land belonging to St. John's Girls' College, Nugegoda. A classroom has been constructed almost adjoining the dispensary building and another is under construction in front. These being permanent school buildings, it it not possible to have the obstruction removed. We are, therefore, exploring the possibility of obtaining alternative accommodation to house the dispensary. Mr. D. B. R. Gunawardena: How long will that take? The Hon. Mr. Nugawela: I cannot say, at the moment, how long it would take, but we are making every effort to do it. Working Hours of Magistrates' Courts, Courts of Requests, &c. 23. Mr. Marikkar asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice: (a) What are the working hours of the Magistrates' Courts, Courts of Requests, District Courts, Assizes and the Supreme Court including Appeal Courts? (b) Was this practice of commencing work late in the morning started during British Colonial days by merely following the British Courts of Justice? (c) Will he take immediate steps to alter the working hours of our courts to suit the convenience of litigants and the climatic conditions prevailing in this country? Mr. T. B. Panabokke (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice): (a) The Magistrates' Courts generally sit from 9.30 or 10 A.M. to 4 or 4.30 P.M. with a midday break from 12.30 to 1.30 P.M. or 1 to 2 P.M. The Courts of Requests and District Courts sit from 10 or 10.30 or 11 A.M. to 4 to 4.30 P.M. with a similar midday break. The above hours are in addition to several hours of Chamber work before and after. The administration of the Supreme Court is not a function of the Ministry of Justice. The information with regard to its hours should be sought from the appropriate authority. (b) No. The hours during which the Courts sit were not fixed on the pattern of the hours of the British Courts. (c) It is not necessary to do so. Experience has shown that the times of sittings are the most convenient to the public, the lawyers engaged in the Courts and for the administration. Considering the work that has to be done by the judicial officers in Chambers before going on the Bench these hours are the most suitable to all parties concerned. Pension Rights, &c., of P. W. D. Lorry Drivers 2. Dr. Perera asked the Minister of Transport and Works: How many lorry drivers in the service of the Public Works Department are entitled to pension rights or gratuity benefits? The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: The Answer is 24. Dr. Perera: Can the Hon. Minister say how many of them are not entitled to these benefits? The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: As a very large number of people are involved, I am sorry I shall have to ask for notice of that Question. Wages of P. W. D. Lorry Drivers 3. Dr. Perera asked the Minister of Transport and Works: Is he aware that most of the lorry drivers in the service of the Public Works Department get wages below those fixed by the Motor Wages Board and will he take steps to bring them up to the level of the Motor Wages Board at least? The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: The Motor Wages Board's rates of pay do not apply to lorry drivers in the P.W.D. or any other Government department. In 1946 the Salaries Committee recommended special scales of salary and provident fund benefits. The Government rates of pay, privileges and benefits are more advantageous. Dr. Perera: May I know then why these lorry drivers are not given better wages or more advantageous rates? The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: They are given more advantageous rates. Dr. Perera: Will the Hon. Minister consider the question if special individual cases are brought to his notice? The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: They bring their own cases forward and get better rates of pay. The Government servant knows how to get a better wage. Railway Concession, &c. to P. W. D. Lorry Drivers 4. Dr. Perera asked the Minister of Transport and Works: (a) Is he aware (i) that Railway concession tickets are not granted to lorry drivers in the service of the Public Works Department? (ii) that these drivers are not paid overtime for work done on Saturdays after the normal closing time? (b) What steps will he take to remedy this? The Hon. Sir. J. Kotelawala: (a) (i) No. Lorry drivers in the P.W.D. are issued season tickets at a concession rate of one-fourth the normal rate. (ii) The normal working hours of lorry drivers are 9 hours per day, inclusive of the lunch interval, for six days a week. Overtime is paid for work done in excess of the hours laid down. (b) Does not arise in view of my replies to (a) (i) and (ii). Dr. Perera: Since when has this change taken place? When Government servants are working only half the day on Saturday and are provided with a 45-hour week, why are these lorry drivers only being asked to work 8 hours on Saturdays? The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: That has been the custom right through. Dr. Perera: That is not so. Will the Hon. Minister please look into that question, because that has not been the custom? These lorry drivers are now being mulcted of their just dues on the ground that they were paid more under the old system. Children in Women's Section of 5. Mr. Murray asked the Minister of Home Affairs: (a) Is he aware that a number of very young children have accompanied their mothers to the Women's Section of the Welikada Gaol and are still there? (b) Is he aware that this is not only most undesirable but actually dangerous from the point of view of the physical well-being of the children concerned? (c) Will he take immediate steps to remove these children from this most unhealthy environment and place them in a suitable institution? The Hon. Mr. A. Ratnayake (Minister of Home Affairs): (a) Yes. (b) Yes. (c) Necessary steps have since been taken. In every case where a child accompanies a mother to the prison, inquiries are made as to whether there are relatives to take over and look after the child, and when such arrangements are not possible, the child is allowed to remain with the mother in prison. Arrangements have since been made for the removal of the children either to relatives or to approved homes. Grant for Water Pipeline to 20. Mr. Sumanatilaka (on behalf of Mr. Unamboowe) asked the Minister of Local Government: (a) Will he state the amount granted for the pipeline conveying water to Niyangandora in the Udapane Village Committee? (b) When was the work completed? (c) Is the water supply scheme functioning now, and if not, when did it cease to function? (d) What amount was deducted from the money due to the contractor for using old pipes? The Hon. Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara (Minister (Minister of Local Government): (a) The Government grant of Rs. 5,000 was made to the Village Committee, Udapane, for the pipeline conveying water to Niyangandora in Udapane Village Committee in 194748. (b) The work was completed on September 7, 1950. (c) Inquiries are being made from the Chairman, V. C. regarding the present condition of the water supply scheme. (d) The amount deducted from the money due to the contractor for using old pipes is Rs. 1,549.15. Repairs to N/Maldeniya School 21. Mr. Sumanatilaka (on behalf of Mr. Unamboowe) asked the Minister of Education : (a) When were repairs to the N/Maldeniya School effected? (b) Who supervised the work, and was the work found to be satisfactory? (c) Was payment made in full, and if not, why? The Hon. Mr. Banda: (a) Repairs were effected in June, 1951. (b) The work was supervised by the SubInspector of School of School Works. The work was generally satisfactory but for some defects. (c) No. The payment was not made in full as there were defects. Dr. Perera: Would the Hon. Minister please let us know whether it is the policy of Government to see that these repairs are fully effected before the rest of the money is paid? The Hon. Mr. Banda: That is the position. The repairs should be properly effected and the work should be satisfactorily completed before the monies are released. Scholarships to Central Schools 22. Mr. Sumanatilaka (on behalf of Mr. Unamboowe) asked the Hon. Minister of Education : (a) How often are scholarship examinations held for admitting scholarship winners to central schools? (b) How are scholarship winners allocated to schools? (c) Are there scholarship winners not resident in central school hostels; and, if so, what provision is made to the best benefit of the scholarship winner? (d) Are there any scholarship winners who are forced to come from their own homes? The Hon. Mr. Banda: (a) Once a year. (b) Scholarships are awarded on a provincial basis of approximately 15 per central school according to the number of vacancies available in any particular central school. Scholars are generally assigned to schools nominated by them. (c) Yes. Parents arrange the board and lodging of their children in consultation with the Principal. (d) No. BILLS PRESENTED. Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Amendment Bill "to amend the Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Order in Council, 1946", presented by the Hon. Mr. A. Ratnayake, Minister of Home Affairs; to be read a Second time upon Wednesday, March 11, 1953, and to be printed. Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Bill "to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Act, No. 17 of 1951", presented by the Hon. Mr. A. Ratnayake, Minister of Home Affairs; to be read a Second time upon Wednesday, March 11, 1953, and to be printed. Tea Control (Amendment) Bill "to amend the Tea Control Act, No. 28 of 1949 ", presented by Mr. V. Kumaraswamy, Parliamentary Secreand Food; to be read a Second time tary to the Minister of Agriculture upon Wednesday, 11th March, 1953, and to be printed. PORT REGULATION 2.20 P.M. The Hon. Sir J. Kotelawala: I move, "That the Regulation made by the Minister of Transport and Works under sections 5 and 13 of the Port of Colombo (Administration) Act, No. 10 of 1950, and published in the Ceylon Government Gazette No. 10,495 of 13th February, 1953, which was presented on February 27, 1953, be approved." This Regulation is in connection with the port "pool" labour. "Pool" labour is paid from levies made from companies in accordance with the cargoes they handle. The "pool" has had to be enlarged because of increased work and we want to raise the maximum rate from 60 to 80 cents. Question proposed. 2.21 P.M. Dr. N. M. Perera (Ruwanwella): I want to draw the attention of the Hon. Minister to a situation that has been created in the harbour now. At least one or two smaller companies are not utilizing the "pool". They do not even have a permanent labour force. They are engaging men on a purely temporary basis and exploiting them. No stand-by wages are paid. Some of the workers have been carrying on in this way for two or three years. The rule is that all temporary labour must be recruited from the "pool". That rule has been adopted |