HC Deb 20 August 1883 vol 283 cc1340-1
SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE (for Mr. E. STANHOPE)

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, When he proposes to make his promised statement giving, in a summary form, the views of the Local Governments in India upon the Criminal Jurisdiction Bill? The right hon. Gentleman further asked whether the hon. Gentleman contemplated bringing forward the Indian Financial Statement to-night; and, if so, at what hour?

MR. J. K. CROSS

The official replies of the Local Governments have not yet reached the India Office; but I believe the following may be taken to be a correct statement of the answers, so far as they have been received:—Bengal and Assam urge withdrawal of the Bill; Madras, Bombay, Punjab, North-West Provinces, Central Provinces are against the withdrawal; Coorg, Hyderabad, and Burmah have not yet sent in their Reports. I may add that we understand that various modifications of the Bill are suggested by the Local Governments.

MR. ONSLOW

Has any one of the Local Governments approved the Bill as it stands?

MR. J. K CROSS

I have given the best answer I can to the Question.

MR. ONSLOW

Can the hon. Gentleman say from what officials the Reports came of which he has just read a summary?

MR. J. K. CROSS

I have said that the official Reports from the Local Governments have not yet been received at the India Office. The summary I gave is official as far as I can give it; but is not official as coming from the India Office.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

And as to the Indian Financial Statement to-night?

MR. J. K. CROSS

Oh, I beg pardon. That is not on the Paper.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

Yes; it is No. 14.

MR. J. K. CROSS

Well, it will not be taken to-night.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

I would ask, Sir, whether the course adopted in regard to the Indian Financial Statement is not without prece- dent? On Thursday the House understood from the right hon. Gentleman that it was to be taken on Monday. ["Order!"] I am asking a Question. On Saturday the Prime Minister, distinctly and without qualification, said it would be the second Order for to-day. That caused a great deal of inconvenience; but now, without any Notice whatever, it is put down as the 14th Order, which means that it will not come on at all to-night.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he was not aware that there was any precedent in the matter, and he was not aware of any precedent for the House sitting for 70 hours in the third week of August; but that was the state of extremity to which the House was driven by pressure of Business. He regretted very much, for the convenience of the House, that under such pressure the accident had occurred by which the Indian Financial Statement appeared on the Paper for to-day. The hon. Gentleman was quite right in saying that he (Mr. Gladstone) had stated the Indian Budget would be the second Order for to-day; but, at the same time, he said everything would be subject to the paramount consideration of Supply, and when they found it would be possible to close Committee of Supply on Sunday morning, and to discuss the remaining Votes on Report, it was felt that the discussion on Report would occupy some hours, and that they could not, in consequence, be sure of presenting the Indian Financial Statement at an hour which would be suitable and convenient. They had, therefore, come to the conclusion that it would be for the convenience of the House that the Indian Financial Statement should be postponed until Wednesday, the Appropriation Bill being the first Order.

MR. ONSLOW

I would put it to the right hon. Gentleman whether, considering the state of public affairs, it is not a farce to take the Indian Financial Statement this year at all; whether it would not be better for the Under Secretary of State for India to publish some statement in the newspapers, and let there be no Indian Financial Statement this year.

MR. GLADSTONE

I do not think we are so hard driven as that, though I admit we are hard driven.