§ MR. H. T. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN (for Sir ROPER LETHBRIDGE,) Kensington, N.I beg to ask the Under 142 Secretary of State for India whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been drawn to the danger of scarcity in the Province of Behar, Bengal; whether the Government of Bengal will, notwithstanding the serious failure of the crops in Behar, proceed with the operations of the proposed cadastral survey in that province; whether, as those operations involve the presence of a large number of subordinate Government officials, they are of so urgent a nature that they cannot be postponed until a period of prosperity; and whether the district and other local officers have been asked their opinion as to the advisability of now carrying out these operations; and, if so, whether the Correspondence can be laid upon the Table of the House?
MR. CURZONThe Secretary of State has received a Report from the Government of India as to the crop prospects in Behar. It is proposed to begin the survey in part of one district about next October. There is at present no reason for thinking that the scarcity, which it is hoped will have abated by August, will prevent the carrying out of this intention. The Secretary of State is not aware that the district officers have been consulted as to the postponement of operations. The Correspondence on the general subject will be presented if moved for, as was stated in answer to a question of the hon. Member for South Donegal on Tuesday.