MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that Petitions to Parliament are being signed by vast numbers of Natives, and circulated throughout every district in the Madras Presidency, com- 392 plaining of the recent protracted Governmental absenteeism, the cost and impolicy of the same, the district official absenteeism, the lost touch of district officials with their ryots, and other allegations on the same subject; and, whether the Secretary of State will anticipate the prayers of the Petitioners by mating immediate inquiries into these allegations?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSThe India Office has no information as to the Petitions referred to. But I gather from the newspapers that the subject of the residence of the various Governments in the Hills during the hot weather months has recently been attracting a good deal of attention in India. The Secretary of State has no present intention of taking any action in the matter.