§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the telegraphic account of the proceedings of the Legislative Council of Calcutta on "Mr. Ilbert's Bill," which was furnished to the Eng- 936 lish Press through Mr. Reuter's agency, was authorised and its transmission directed by the Government of India; whether the expense of transmission was defrayed out of the revenues of India; and, whether, if it was so authorised, there will be any objection to lay it upon the Table of the House, so that it may be compared with any fuller reports since received?
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the summary of the Debate in the Legislative Council on Mr. Ilbert's Native Jurisdiction Bill, which was telegraphed by Reuter's Agency on 12th March, was supplied to the Agency and its transmission paid for by the Indian Government; whether several or most of the speeches in opposition to the Bill, including those of General Wilson and the Lieutenant Governor, were either entirely omitted or inadequately reported, while those made in support of the Bill were reported at much greater length; whether Reuter's Agent at Calcutta, who sent it, now states that the report "was sent on account of Government as an exposition of their views;" and, whether he will cause to be printed and laid upon the Table of the House an inadequate and impartial report of the Debate in question?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSSir, reference having been made to the Viceroy, he has replied that the telegraphic account of the debate of March 9 on the Jurisdiction Bill was authorized, and its transmission paid for by the Government of India, in the same manner as the telegraphic summary of the Budget Statement. There is no objection to laying a copy of the telegram on the Table. The full Report of the debate has been received, and will be presented to-day. Perhaps the hon. Baronet the Member for Wigtonshire will accept this as an answer to his Question also.