SIR MINTO FARQUHARasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether the scheme for carrying out the amalgamation 144 of the Indian Army has been completed, and forwarded to India for promulgation; and whether he had any objection to lay a Copy of the scheme upon the table of the House?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, that de-spatches had been sent to India containing the directions of the Government with respect to the amalgamation, of the local army with the Queen's troops, and one of the documents connected with the subject had already appeared in the Gazette. The Governor General had power, in conjunction with the Commander-in-Chief, to modify to a considerable extent the instructions sent from this country. Therefore it was not desirable to give a copy of despatches, which might be modified in the Order which was actually promulgated to the army. Consequently, he preferred not to lay the papers on the table of the House until he was in possession of the official document actually issued.
SIR MINTO FARQUHARinquired if the Governor General had power to promulgate the Order when modified by him without waiting for the assent of the Home Government?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODreplied that the Governor General had power to issue the modified Order in India without previously sending it home for approval.