VISCOUNT MAHONwished to ask a question of the right hon. Baronet the President of the Board of Control. There was a great anxiety at present pervading the public mind with regard to railways in India, especially after the explanations which he understood had taken place by the Indian Government. He wished to ask the right hon. Baronet what was the present state of that question, and what prospect there was of a portion, at least, of our Indian empire enjoying the advantage of railways?
§ SIR J. HOBHOUSEsaid, that negotiations were at present going on between certain railway companies and the Indian Government. Whilst those negotiations were going on, the noble Viscount would perceive that no good end would be answered by his explanation of the terms which the one party was prepared to propose, and the other to accept. But the moment he became acquainted with the result, if the noble Viscount would ask him the question again, he would have no hesitation in answering.
§ MR. BRIGHTwished to ask another question upon this subject. He wished to know whether the Indian Government had come to the determination not to make these railways itself, but to have them made by private companies?
§ SIR J. HOBHOUSEsaid, the Indian Government had come to no such determination. The real state of the case was this—at present they proposed that these undertakings should be carried on by private companies; but the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Bright) might rest assured that the Indian Government had come to no determination, if the work should not be done by private companies, not to undertake it themselves.