§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether, in view of his statement that the native Indian signallers have never been entitled to house allowance in lieu of accommodation in a telegraph building, he will make inquiries from India as to whether it is a fact that such allowance has been made to the signallers, both European and Indian, and for what period; and whether the Secretary of State will give instructions that where identical duties are performed by officers of the Department, and where no social or religious customs forbid occupancy of quarters in the telegraph building, equality of treatment shall be accorded European and Indian Officials alike?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe Secretary of State has satisfied himself by reference to the best authority that no such allowance has ever been made and no further inquiry seems to be necessary. Equality of treatment has always been, and always will be, accorded to European and Indian officials alike.
§ *MR. BRADLAUGHUpon that statement I will supply the right hon. Gentleman with a list showing the cases in which there has been a difference.