§ MR. MACFARLANE (Argyll)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if, considering the grave question of Indian finance, he will consent to the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the expenditure in this country which is charged to the Revenues of India?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEThere is no objection to the inquiry proposed, except that we are of opinion that the_ time has not yet come when the idea of such an inquiry could be properly entertained. We are still waiting for the Report of the Committee which is sitting upon the subject of Indian Currency, and until that Report is in our hands it would not be advisable to take any other steps.
§ MR. MACFARLANEI am afraid I did not make my question quite clear. I only intended to suggest an inquiry into the question of whether the home charges on India are excessive or not.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI perfectly understand my hon. Friend's question. It relates, not to Indian finance in general, but to the question of home charges. That is a subject referred to the Committee for examination: and until that Committee, which is now sitting, has been enabled to arrive at a conclusion, there would be no advantage in making other inquiries.