MR. M. T. BASSsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been drawn to a practice, said to have been adopted in India, for restoring unsound Malt Liquor supplied to the Troops; and. whether he will lay upon the Table of the House any Correspondence on the subject?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, in reply, that his attention was drawn to this question last autumn; and, after receiving from the Government in India an explanation of the practice pursued, it was thought advisable to refer the question to high chemical authority in this 16 country. The result of such reference went to show that to treat beer in the manner described, was attended with disadvantage to the troops, and an order was sent out that the practice should be discontinued. He had no objection to lay the Papers on the table.
§ Afterwards—
§ MR. GREENEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, Whether he considers that the habit of taking the lowest tender for beer for the supply of the Troops in India is calculated to give the Troops a sound, wholesome beverage; and, whether he has thought it desirable to ascertain if at the price accepted for last season's supply it was possible to produce beer calculated to travel eight thousand miles by sea and a thousand or two thousand miles by land and be fit for the Soldiers to drink?
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, in reply, said, it was not the case that the lowest tender for beer was taken as a matter of course. Specified particulars were sent to the brewers, the brewing was effected under the inspection of officers, and chemical tests were subsequently applied. More than that, the brewers were bound to furnish the Inland Revenue with certificates in respect of the brewing. This system had hitherto worked very satisfactorily, no complaints having been made of the quality of the beer supplied to the troops.