MR. POTTEEasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case 960 that the arrears of Revenue for last year are to be collected in those districts of the Bombay Presidency which suffered from the recent famine; and whether the crops of this year had been severely injured by blight in a considerable portion of the same districts?
MR. GATHORNE HARDYSir, out of a total sum for collection amounting to about £2,629,000, £2,334,000 was collected by the 31st of August last, remissions were granted to the extent of £21,000, leaving a balance of £274,000, which it was hoped would be recovered. In a despatch, dated December last, Lord Salisbury expressed his opinion that—
The results are most creditable to the Revenue officers of the Bombay Presidency, and are satisfactory even if all the suspended balances be not recovered;adding, that he trusted that Government, in issuing instructions for their realization—will require moderation from all officers, and will take care that they do not in any instance press their demand to such a point as to hinder recovery from the effects of the famine in the distressed districts.In answer to the second part of the Question, I have to say that the crops of the present year have, in some cases, suffered from blight, but not to an extent to cause anxiety. Writing in February, the Government of Bombay Say—Although in some districts the reports regarding the state of the crops are not as favourable as could be desired, and prices are ruling generally high, still we trust that there will be no necessity for any future measures of relief.