§ MR. WILBRAHAM EGERTONasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been directed to the fact that differential Duties of about £1 a ton are now levied in Bengal on English salt, as against the Excise manufactured salt of the Bengal coast, and the salt of the Sambuhr Lake and adjoining sources; whether this is 179 not contrary to the arrangement made by Sir Charles Wood in 1862 that English salt should have fair play in Bengal; and, whether he will endeavour to remedy this state of things so unfavourable to the English salt trade, and urge upon the Indian Government the equalisation of the Duties on salt in the Bengal Presidency?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, some unofficial correspondence has taken place between Mr. Palk, the Chairman of the Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, and the India Office respect-in the grievance of which that Chamber complains. Mr. Palk has been asked to embody those alleged grievances in a formal Memorial; and on receiving the document it will be forwarded to the Government of India, with a despatch asking them to give the matter their due consideration, and to state their opinion upon it. Until the reply is received I am unable to communicate further with the hon. Member.