§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether, under the provisions of the Post Office Bill which has been introduced to the Legislative Council of India by the Indian Government, enabling any postal officer, authorised in writing by the Governor General in Council, to stop in transit and destroy any documents passing through the post, the certificate of a Secretary to the Government of India or to the Local Government is to be conclusive proof that the detention, opening, 979 and destruction of letters were justified in the public interest; and whether the Government will have any objection to lay the India Post Office Bill upon the Table of the House of Commons?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAUnder the Post Office Bill, the Governor General in Council may, on the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety or tranquillity, direct that any postal article shall be intercepted or detained, or be disposed of in such manner as the Governor General in Council shall direct; and if doubt arises as to the existence of a public emergency, or as to what may be necessary in the interest of the public safety and tranquillity, the certificate of a Secretary to the Government of India, or to a Local Government, is to be conclusive proof on the point. The effect of the clause containing these provisions is to define the powers of the Government of India in respect of postal articles, which are now somewhat indefinite, and to assimilate them to the powers which that Government already possesses under the Act of 1885, in respect of telegrams. I am not prepared to lay on the Table of the House a copy of a Measure which is under discussion in the Legislative Council; but if it should become law, and if the hon. Member will then move for it, I shall make no objection.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the noble Lord not lay the Bill, such as it is, before us, so that that may be under our consideration meanwhile?
§ [No reply.]