§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Mr. G. H. D. Wilson, of the Covenanted Civil Service of India, and late Political Agent of Cambay, was accused of having demanded the daughter of the Dewan of Cambay as a concubine; whether a Commission composed of two of the most experienced Members of the Indian Civil Service, Mr. J. G. Moore and the Hon. J. B. Naylor, was appointed by the Government of Bombay to make inquiry into this charge; whether, after a public investigation, both parties being represented by leading counsel of the Bombay Bar, the Commissioners found that the charge had been proved; whether their decision was upheld by the Government of Bombay; whether Viscount Cross has reversed this decision; and, if so, upon what grounds; whether Mr. Wilson is not to return to India; and, whether he is to be allowed to resign on a special pension; if so, what is 1658 the amount of this pension, under what Statute is it granted, and, will the people of India have to pay it?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir JAMES FERGUSSION) (Manchester, N.E.)I have to reply to this Question on behalf of my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for India, who is still indisposed. The facts stated in the first three Questions are substantially correct. The Government of Bombay expressed concurrence in the finding of the Commissioners, but referred the matter to the Secretary of State, and postponed the issue of final orders until the proceedings had been considered by him. On the receipt of the Papers at the India Office the case was, in the first instance, referred by the Secretary of State to a Special Committee of his Council, which considered the evidence altogether insufficient to support the finding of the Commissioners in India. The Secretary of State, after careful consideration, came to the same conclusion; but recognizing the importance of the case, was anxious to obtain the independent opinion of high legal authority, and the whole of the Papers were accordingly laid before the Lord Chancellor. After attentive examination of them, he unhesitatingly gave his opinion that Mr. Wilson was entitled to an acquittal; and this view being in accordance with that of the Secretary of State and of the Indian Council, it was adopted. For reasons explained in the Secretary of State's despatch to the Government of Bombay, which will shortly be published in India, it was not thought desirable that Mr. Wilson should return to India. A retiring allowance will be granted to him; but its amount cannot now be stated, because before this could be determined a reference to the Government of Bombay was found necessary. The principle, however, on which it will be regulated is that it will fall short of the annuity to which he would have been entitled, on the completion of the ordinary term of service by an amount proportionate to the time by which his actual service is deficient.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLasked, under what section of the Civil Servic Pensions Code pensions were granted?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, he was unable to answer the Question; but he might say that the pensions were 1659 made up out of contributions; by members of the Civil Service from their pay, amounting to about two-thirds of the total amount; and Mr. "Wilson's pension would, therefore, be less in proportion to the time by which it would fall short of his full term of service.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLwished to know whether there was any section of the Civil Service Pensions Code which was applicable to such a case as this?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONasked the hon. Gentleman to give Notice of the Question, which was not one relating to his own Department.