LORD STANLEYsaid, he would now beg to ask the Secretary of State for In- 115 dia. What amount of expenditure it is intended to incur in the establishment of a line of Steam Transports to convey Troops by the overland route; whether all Transport of Troops to and from India is to take place hereafter by that line; and, if so, at what seasons of the year, and what use, if any, will be made of the Transports during the months not available for the conveyance of Troops?
§ SIR CHARLES WOOD, in reply, said, the subject of transport of troops to India had long engaged the attention of the Government of India, who had recommended that if possible the overland route should be adopted. The result of inquiries that had been instituted was to show that the transport of troops to India, taking into consideration the time gained during which the service of the troops would be available, could be effected at a less cost than under the present system. It was, therefore, proposed to establish lines of transports to Alexandria and from Suez to India. The number of transports at present proposed would not be adequate for the conveyance of all the troops it was necessary to send to India, but it was intended in the first instance to build five transports. The Admiralty had been consulted upon the subject, and upon their advice the transports would be of large size, and would cost something under £200,000 each, or altogether, including the cost of landing vessels, rather more than £1,000,000. There could not be the least doubt that those vessels would soon save their cost, and that their use would lead not only to economy, but to an improvement in the health of the troops. The service would be performed in accordance with the recommendations of a Committee which had considered the subject, and of the Admiralty. The vessels on this side of Egypt would be employed for three-fifths of each year in the conveyance of troops to India, and during the remaining two-fifths of the year they would be available for the general transport service of the Admiralty. Arrangements would be made that troops proceeding to India should pass through the Red Sea, between the commencement of October and the end of March, thus avoiding the hot season. The vessels in India would be employed during the same period in corresponding duties, and during the remainder of the year they would be employed in conveying troops from one part of the Indian coast to another and between India and the colonies.
§ SIR JAMES ELPHINSTONEsaid, he wished to know, whether the expense was to be borne by the Indian Government?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, the expense would be borne exactly in the proportion to the services performed.
§ MR. ARTHUR MILLSsaid, he wished to ask, in reference to the subject which had just been mentioned by the hon. Member for Portsmouth (Sir James Elphinstone), whether the £1,000,000, which was to be expended in building the steam transports to convey troops to India was to be charged upon the Indian Revenue or in the home expenditure?
§ SIR CHARLES WOODsaid, that the cost of building these transports would be defrayed by the Indian Government. The annual charge would be defrayed by the Indian and Home Governments in proportion to the services rendered.