§ MR. A. F. WARR (Liverpool, East Toxteth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether in the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay salt used for curing purposes is supplied from the Government salt works at cost price and free of duty, whereas in the Presidency of Bengal the full duty of two rupees eight annas per maund (equivalent to nearly £5 per ton) is imposed; and if so, whether he wilt undertake to consider the removal of this inequality between the Presidencies, with a view to the encouragement of fish-curing in the Presidency of Bengal and consequent increase of food supplied?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)Salt is supplied to persons working at fish-curing yards in Bombay and Madras at a price of 8 to 10 annas per maund duty free. Similar fish-curing yards have not been opened on the Bengal coast; but, if there were likely to be a demand for such facilities, the Government would gladly encourage a fish-curing industry by granting the 725 same privileges as in Madras and Bombay. The salt preventive staff is now being strengthened on the Bengal coast, and the management of fish-curing yards there will become easier.