§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (&c.) Kirkcaldy,asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the 1634 case that the Bengal Central Railway Company, finding that the Railway they made under a definite bargain was not a paying concern, have obtained a Government guarantee to set them up and restore the value of their shares; whether, following this example, the Rohilcund and Kumaon Railway Company, and other unpaying concerns, have applied for similar assistance; and, whether it is the intention of the Secretary of State for India to revive the practice under which Companies which succeed hold to their bargains, and those which do not pay manage, by putting pressure on the Indian authorities, to shift their losses on to the Indian taxpayer?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir UGHTRED KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH) (Lancashire, Clitheroe)The Bengal Central Railway Company having applied in June last for a continuance till June, 1885, of the advance by the Government of India of interest originally granted for five years, the Secretary of State in Council, after communicating with India, acceded to the application. A further application from the Company in July led to a further extension of interest till December, 1885; and a permanent guarantee of interest, under certain conditions, was agreed to between the Secretary of State in Council and the Company. A suggestion from the Robilcund and Kumaon Railway Company that a similar agreement might be made with them has been referred to the Government of India for consideration. Although every case of this kind must be judged on its merits, my answer to the third Question of my hon. Friend as to the general policy of the Secretary of State in Council is certainly in the negative.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLgave Notice that at the earliest opportunity he would call attention to the facts mentioned in the Question, and would move a Resolution.