§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether he can state how often the employés on the Burma State Railway are paid; whether some, and which, classes of railway officials are paid monthly, and whether some, and which, classes of railway servants are paid at much longer periods; whether he is aware that the poorer employés complain of the hardship of these postponed payments; whether there is any sufficient reason for not making such payments weekly; and whether the Secretary of State will take any action in the matter?
SIR J. GORSTMr. Deputy Speaker, the questions of the hon. Member relate to matters of detail in connection with the management of an Indian railway, as to which the Secretary of State has very little information, and the regulation of which is within the proper functions of the Local Government. If any of the employés have grounds of complaint their proper course is to make representations to the Local Government. In the improbable event of such representations not receiving due consideration they can appeal to the Government of India and ultimately to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can take no action except upon Memorials and information transmitted to him through the Government of India in the regular and proper manner.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to give notice that I shall take such means as the proceedings of this House may afford me during this Session to make a full statement as to the disgraceful character of the condition of these men, especially as I understand that the Secretary of State proposes to make no inquiry into it.