§ MR. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercromby)I bog to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether any new policy regarding the raising of funds for the construction of Indian railways has been brought before the Government of India by the Secretary of State; and whether he will lay upon the Table any correspondence connected therewith?
§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question I should like to ask him another arising out of it, of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he is aware that representations have been made to the Government of India by local Chambers of Commerce and other Representative Bodies, strongly urging the paramount importance, in the interests alike of the native population and of the English merchants, manufacturers, and workmen, of the opening up of the country by the extension of railway communication, and that the desire of these Bodies is for that policy, whether new or old, which will most rapidly and effectually attain that end?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamIn reply to the question of the hon. Member which appears upon the Paper I can only say that communications as to the policy regarding the raising of funds for the construction of Indian Railways have passed between the Secretary of State and the Government of India, but the correspondence is not yet complete; and, therefore, I cannot make any statement on the subject. With regard to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for North Kensington (Sir R. Lethbridge), I can only state that the Secretary of State is aware that representations of the character mentioned have been made, and that he will adhere to the policy so often advocated of promoting the extension of Indian Railways as fast as the circumstances will permit.