§ MR. LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a Press committee has been established at Poona; and who is responsible for its creation, and what are the contemplated duties of the committee as described to the persons who were appointed or invited to become members of it?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe Bombay Government have had under consideration a proposal for the appointment of committees in certain towns for the purpose of keeping the 374 responsible officials informed as to the character of the matter published in the local newspapers. These bodies were to be of a consultative character, and not to be invested with any executive responsibility. I am in communication with the Government of Bombay upon the subject. As I have before said, the law of India does not admit of the exercise of any censorship of the Press.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI am not certain whether any committee has been appointed. I have stated to the honourable Gentleman what was the idea of the Bombay Government, and the nature of the duties it is proposed to entrust to such committees.