§ MR. CROPPERasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true that the Government of India has reduced the Duty on Opium exported from Bombay by 50 rupees per chest; and, whether the object of the Government in this reduction is to encourage the Opium trade between Bombay and China?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I have not yet received from the Government of India any account of the 377 reasons which have induced them to reduce the duty on opium by 50 rupees a chest. I imagine the reason is their desire to place Malwah opium on a more equal footing with Bengal opium as regards taxation; but I am not in a position to know.