§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of Mr. Tremenheere, the highest revenue official in the district in South India whore the famine prevails, describing the condition of the poor people at Senneri, of whom he says that—
Their state is not appreciably lower than usual; a large proportion of them are always badly nourished, clad (if at all) in the vilest of rags.And also states that they are suffering from disease, and are living in wretched huts; and whether the Government of India are taking any steps in the matter?
*SIR J. GORSTThe Secretary of State has not received the particular Report cited, nor can he identify the name of the place given in the question" Perhaps Ponneri is meant, which is the relief centre for one of the poorest parts of the Chingleput district. Owing to uncertainties of season parts of Chingleput are decidedly poor. The fortnightly telegrams received from Madras show that constant effort is made to relieve distress in Chingleput where over 7,000 1423 people were receiving Government relief a fortnight ago. The Chingleput district is served by two railways from Madras, and food can easily be brought thither. We must look to the progress of the country, the growth of other industries, and emigration to Burma for the gradual amelioration of the condition of the people in Chingleput.