§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Salt Tax in India is now exactly double what it was in the time of the East India Company in 1858; whether the Salt Tax is now two rupees per maund against one rupee in 1858; and, whether nine-tenths of the price Natives pay for salt go to Government as a tax?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSSir, to the first two clauses of the Question I must reply in the negative. The Salt Tax was in 1858 in Bengal two rupees eight annas per maund; in Upper India two rupees; in Madras and Bombay 12 annas to one rupee. It has now been equalized throughout India at two rupees. To the last clause I must also reply in the negative. The mean average selling price of salt, including the tax, was in December, 1883, in Madras, two rupees 13 annas; in Bombay, three rupees 12 annas; in the North-West Provinces, three rupees 12 annas; in the Punjab, three rupees two annas; and in Bengal, three rupees 15 annas.