§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Bauffshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State for India has received a Memorial adopted at a public meeting held at Nagpur on the 19th of April last, protesting against the exclusion of the Central Provinces from the right to recommend a Representative to the Supreme Legislative Council, under the Rules framed in accordance with Section 1 of "The Indian Councils Act, 1892"; and whether, having regard to the interests of the 10,000,000 inhabitants of the Central Provinces, and to the fact that all their laws are enacted by the Viceroy's Council, the Secretary of State will consider the desirability of granting to the Central Provinces the right to recommend at least one nominee to that Council, as has been granted to Provinces which have the advantage of Legislatures of their own?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL,) North Beds.The Secretary of State has seen the Memorial on the subject referred to by my hon. Friend, but it has not, been received by him officially. The question of the best method of securing the representation on the Viceroy's Council of the Provinces which have no Legislatures of their own, 1040 was fully considered by the Government of India, who decided that simple nomination, guided by consultation with the persons best qualified to give advice, will be the best means of securing Representatives from them. This decision has been approved by the Secretary of State in Council.