§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONinquired whether the President of the Board of 1420 Control intended to introduce in the Bill for the future government of India, any provisions for the purpose of giving greater facilities for the importation of salt into India?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODreplied, that any legislation on the subject to which the question related, should be legislation in India, not legislation by the Parliament of this country. It might, however, be some comfort to those on whose behalf the question was put, to learn that, as appeared from the last papers received on the subject, there had been an increased importation of British salt into India. In 1848–49, 459,000 maunds were imported; in 1849–50, 624,000 maunds; and in six months of the subsequent year, rather more than the quantity imported in 1849–50—namely, 672,000 maunds.
§ SIR HERBERT MADDOCKinquired whether it was proposed, after the passing of the Bill, to retain the practice of "previous communication" in the transaction of business and correspondence between the Board of Control and the Court of Directors; and whether it was proposed to adopt any measures to improve and render less voluminous the system of correspondence now carried on between the Court of Directors and the authorities in India?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODstated, in answer to the first question, that he did not propose to put a stop to the practice of "previous communication," as it tended to facilitate the transaction of business { and, in answer to the Second, that he should endeavour to reduce the quantity of correspondence between this country and India. He added that it ought to be remembered, however, that some witnesses had expressed it as their opinion that the carrying on of such correspondence was absolutely necessary for the good government of India.