§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether any legislative action is being taken by the Government of India to provide for the great necessity existing in the Central Provinces of India for legislation in the direction of the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act of 1879 and the Jhansi Incumbered Estates Act of 1882, to oblige Civil Courts, in decreeing on contracts of mortgage or loans, to enforce the payment of only so much as is warranted by the principles of justice; whether he is aware that indebtedness is everywhere increasing in the Central Provinces to such an extent that, unless relief in the direction indicated is found, the inevitable result will be the transfer to the money-lending classes of a very largo portion of the land of these Provinces; and if no action has been taken, whether the Secretary of State will give instructions for a measure to be prepared and considered during the next Session of the Viceroy's Legislative Council?
SIR J. GORSTThis is a matter in which the initiative must be left to the 115 Government of India, and the Secretary of State has not yet heard of any legislative action being taken by them. Careful inquiries have, however, been made regarding the condition of the lower classes in the Central Provinces, The conclusions arrived at were that the agricultural classes were, generally speaking, very well off, but that a deplorable amount of indebtedness existed. A very large proportion of the cultivating classes has been thrown by extravagance into the money lender's hands, and is now practically at his mercy.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHIs it not true that Mr. Mackenzie's Report, 915 (s), to the Government of India, which has been communicated to the Secretary of State, states that indebtedness is everywhere increasing in the Central Provinces to such an extent that, unless relief in the direction of legislation is afforded, the land will pass into the hands of money lenders? Does not the Secretary of State consider that to be sufficiently grave to require some communication to be addressed to the Government of India on the subject?
SIR J. GORSTI cannot call to mind -the exact accuracy of the quotation given by the hon. Gentleman unless he will give notice, so that I may be able to verify it. The Secretary of State has carefully considered the statements of Mr. Mackenzie, contained in the Report referred to, and I have endeavoured to give the substance of that Report. The matter is engaging the attention of the Government of India, as has been frequently stated in this House. The initiative must be left to the Government of India.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHDo not the words which I quoted appear in the very Report from which the hon. Gentleman took a portion of the answer he made to me?
SIR J. GORSTThat s exactly what I said; but I added that I could not verify the strict accuracy of the quotation without referring to the Report itself, and I have not got the Report here.