§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Mr. Mookerjea, Native Member of the Viceroy of India's Council, 1244 subsequently to the introduction last month of the Bengal Tenancy Bill, moved for a delay of three weeks to permit of the Bill being published in the vernacular Gautee; whether this Motion was negatived; whether Mr. Mookerjea then moved for delay of three weeks to give interested parties time to study altered Bill; whether Sir Steuart Bayley, on behalf of the Government, said that "he thought three weeks' delay would mean one year's delay;" and, whether this signified that during that time the annual exodus to Simla must take place?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSasked what the hon. Baronet meant by "vernacular Gautee?" He apprehended it must be a misprint, otherwise he could not understand what it meant.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLsaid, he presumed it was a word in the vernacular dialect of Bengal.
§ MR. J. K. CROSSI presume it really means The Vernacular Gazette, and I am told that there is no such vernacular as Gautee. In answer to the Question of the hon. Member, I have to say the debate in the Legislative Council on the Bengal Tenancy Bill, as reported by the Select Committee, began on the 27th ultimo. The last proceedings of the Legislative Council which have been received are dated 14th ultimo. The hon. Baronet will therefore see that I am unable to answer his Question.
MR. GORSTasked, when the Returns he moved for last Session as to the cost of the annual exodus would be laid on the Table?
§ MR. J. K. CROSS,in reply, said, he would be able to give a definite answer shortly. They had the Returns for three years; but they were not consecutive, and he had asked the Indian Government to complete them before laying them on the Table of the House.
§ MR. ONSLOW,in reference to the last part of the Question, asked, whether it was not the fact that the Viceroy, instead of going to Simla, was going to attend a most important gathering at Rawul Pindi?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSYes, Sir.