MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the shooting case in which four privates of the Connaught Rangers came into collision with some natives near Meerut in December last, and which has aroused considerable interest in India; and whether, in view of the frequent occurrence of such conflicts in India, due to the practice of British soldiers carrying firearms whilst off duty, he will consider whether more stringent regulations are required in the interests of the public peace.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, EalingI have seen with much regret a newspaper report of the occurrence referred to, and have observed that it was found by the High Court of the North-Western Provinces that the soldiers acted in self defence. As regards the second part of the question, the Government of India were consulted by me last year, and were of opinion that there was no ground for special measures. In this opinion I concur. The regulations for the grant to soldiers of shooting passes, which were revised in 1892 and 1895, are already very stringent. The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that cases of collision between British soldiers and natives are of frequent occurrence.