§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, with reference to the new measures of Taxa- 363 tion introduced in the Legislative Council of Bengal, Whether, in accordance with the instructions of the Secretary of State for India in Council, dated 31st March, 1874, and 11th November, 1875, the intention to introduce those measures was previously communicated to the Secretary of State in Council; if so, whether they have been considered and approved by him?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONSir, information of the intended legislation was sent home to my noble Friend the Secretary of State by telegraph under the clause of the despatch of the 11th November, 1875, referring to urgency. The Secretary of State gave leave for the introduction of the measures, reserving his liberty of expressing any objection at a later stage. At the same time, it is right to say that my noble Friend the present Secretary of State has for some time past recommended to the Viceroy the principle that where irrigation has been provided at large expense by the State for the benefit of any locality or province, the locality or province so benefited should recuperate the State.