MR. FIELD (, St. Patrick) DublinI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office, will he explain why the Administrator General of Bombay invariably pays creditors of deceased officers whose estates pass through his hands at par, thus entailing a great loss on English creditors, while the Administrator of Bengal pays at the full rate of exchange?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI am not aware of the reason for this difference of practice to which the Question refers, but I will make inquiry on the subject.
MR. FIELDI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, on the death of an officer in either the British or Indian Services being reported, he will give instructions that the usual notice of claims against the estate be inserted in the London Gazette or some prominent English paper; and whether he is aware that through the present practice of inserting the notice only in 858 Indian papers it often occurs that English creditors remain unaware of the decease of an officer until the time has expired for claims to be sent in, and their accounts are excluded when the estate is distributed?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe matter to which the Question relates was considered by my predecessor in office, who came to the conclusion that the issue of advertisements in this country would cause great inconvenience, expense, and delay, and was not likely to serve any useful purpose. I see no reason to dissent from this opinion.