§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he has made inquiries as to the Memorials presented by merchants to the Government of India with respect to the leases of the teak forests in Upper Burmah, and what answer has been given to those Memorials by the Government; whether any exports in forestry have been employed by the Indian Government to ascertain the condition of the teak forests; whether it has been found that a very large number of trees have been prematurely girdled or cut by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, and great damage has been done to the forests; whether the Government of India contemplate the continuance or prolongation of the leases granted by King Theebaw to that Company, and upon what terms as to payment or otherwise; whether the Government will lay before the House any Reports as to the extent to which young trees have been cut down; and, whether, before any decision is arrived at to continue the monopoly of teak in the hands of the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, an opportunity will be given for the consideration of the question by the House?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir John GORST) (Chatham)The inquiry promised by me on July 15 is being made by means of a Despatch, and sufficient time has not elapsed to obtain an answer from the Government of India. The Government of India i have not yet furnished the Secretary of State with information as to the steps they are taking to ascertain and improve the condition of the teak forests, nor as to the result of their inquiries. It has been alleged that the Government of India are under legal obligations to the British Burmah Company by reason of certain contracts entered into between that Company and King Theebaw. The extent of the obligations has not yet been determined; but the Government of India does not contemplate the grant of any further monopoly of teak beyond the rights, if any, which the British Burmah Company already possess.