§ MR. J. M. MACLEAN (Oldham)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is true, as stated by Mr. Streeter at a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society on Monday night, that the Secretary of State has, by refusing to carry out the concession entered into by the Earl of Dufferin for the lease of the Ruby Mines in Burmah, caused a loss to the Indian Revenues in one year of 3¾ lakhs of rupees, or £37,500?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)It is impossible to state the exact loss to the revenues of the year by the working of the Ruby Mines having been postponed. On the other hand, the exhaustion of the mines has not commenced, and the revenue lost in the present year will, in ordinary course, be realized in years to come.