§ MR. GORELL BARNES (Kent, Faversham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, whether he has sanctioned the Orders contained in the Reso- 68 lution of the Government of India, dated 22nd June 1895, under which in future only half the service of certain Indian uncovenanted officers before a certain date 11th December 1893) will be allowed to count towards furlough, though formerly all such service was counted; whether he is aware that the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons, and subsequent authoritative statements, have encouraged these officers to expect concessions instead of restrictions in regard to their furlough rules; and, whether the Correspondence on the subject of the grievances of the Indian uncovenanted Civil Services can be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONThe Orders to which the hon. Member refers did not require the sanction of the Secretary of State, but were reported for information. Having regard to the circumstances, I see no reason for disapproving them. The new Rules must be regarded as a whole, and no officer need come under these unless he chooses to do so. The correspondence is voluminous and not quite complete, but I shall offer no objection to a Motion for a Return, in continuation of No. 168 of 1892, as soon as the Dispatch, now under consideration, shall have reached the Government of India.