§ MR. J. M. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has decided to place the steamers of the North German Lloyd line on the same footing as those of British companies in respect to the exemption from penalties of Officers overstaying their leave through delay in the arrival of the vessel in which they return to India; and whether any North German Lloyd steamers now run on the mail lines to India?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingThe answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. So far as I am aware, the North German Lloyd steamers run to Aden and Colombo, but not to any port in India.
§ *MR. MACLEANIs not this concession an invitation to the North German Lloyds to start competition 396 against British steamers running to British ports?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI think the concession could hardly be refused.