MR. OTWAYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether, having regard to the state of Public Business, and the period of the Session, he would object to substitute a measure having a temporary effect so far as the Indian Council in this Country is concerned, for the proposed Government of India Amendment Bill?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, in reply, said, there would be four vacancies in the Council of India this year, and there would be great difficulty in inducing gentlemen to accept the office, unless they knew the nature of the tenure by which they would hold their offices, and the amount of their salaries. The Government of India Amendment Bill only contained six clauses. The 1st had passed through Committee. To the 3rd, 5th, and 6th there was no objection. The 4th related to the appointment of the Governor General's Council in India, which might give rise to some discussion, and he proposed to withdraw it from the Bill and transfer it to the Governor General of India Bill. The last clause referred to the salaries of future Members of the Council. The Bill stood for Committee that day, and if he was allowed to pass it through Committee at the unopposed hour hon. Members might move any new clauses on the Report, and the field of discussion would thus be much narrowed.