§ MR. MOLLOYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he will inquire into the truth of certain statements in the "Madras Standard," dated June last, as to the method of levying a special Police Tax which has been imposed on the inhabitants of the town of Salem, in consequence of a riot which occurred there, viz., that—
The Tax is fixed in accordance to the will and caprice of a revenue officer, and that the collector simply confirms the assessment;and, if this be a true statement, he will take steps to relieve these people from undue taxation?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSThe special police tax, to which the hon. Member for Queen's County refers, is levied on the inhabitants of Salem under Madras Act III., of 1882, which corresponds with the law in other parts of India. The Act provides that—
The magistrate of the district, after inquiry, if necessary, shall assess the proportion in which the amount is to he paid by the inhabitants, according to his judgment of their respective means.The collector of Salem is responsible to the Government of Madras for the manner in which he discharges the duties imposed upon him under the Act; and the Secretary of State sees no reason to interfere.