HC Deb 09 April 1886 vol 304 cc1166-7
MR. LEWIS MCIVER (Devon, Torquay)

asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether, during the last two years, the Government Cinchona plantations on the Nilgiri Hills have been extended by nearly half a million trees; whether it is true that a large amount of private capital has been invested in Cinchona cultivation on the Nilgiri Hills; whether, with regard to the statement contained in the Despatch, 4th April 1871, of the Secretary of State for India— It should be clearly understood that the Government have no intention of embarking permanently in the bark trade. In sending their Cinchona bark to the London market, one object is certainly to repay the cost of introduction and experimental cultivation of the plants, but the principal intention of the Government, in sanctioning this measure, is to act as a pioneer in establishing the reputation of the Indian-grown barks, and not to injure the prospects of private planters, whose success would give the Government very great satisfaction, it is true that the Government of India, since that time, have continued and extended their investments in this branch of commerce; and, whether it is the intention of the Indian Government to continue in competition with private nteerprise?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH) (Lancashire, Clitheroe)

I can answer my hon. Friend's first three Questions in the affirmative, only reminding him that the Duke of Argyll, in a despatch to the Government of Madras of the same date as that which he quotes, wrote— It is clearly necessary that the Government should retain the plantations in their own hands for the present. The time has not, therefore, arrived for finally deciding upon the question of their retention or eventual sale. As at present informed, however, I incline to the opinion that a portion of the plantations, with the manufactory, should remain permanently under Government superintendence. Though it has never been the intention of the Indian Government to continue permanently in the bark trade, the time for withdrawing from it has been deferred during scientific investigations on the subject of the production of a cheap febrifuge.