§ SIR MANCHERJEE BHOWNAGGREE (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India, seeing that the Victoria Technical Institute of Bombay is an establishment carried on at public expense and under the management or control of Government, can he state why a mechanical engineer is being sent out from Europe for the training of students in that institution in theoretical and practical mechanical engineering at a salary of about £300 per annum; and whether an engineer fit to give such training cannot be secured in India; and, if not, will he state if the Government of India contemplates action in the direction of providing such engineering and other technical instruction as might supply hereafter teachers of the capacity required in the instance mentioned from among the people of that country.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)I have no information as to any request from the Victoria Technical Institute that a mechanical engineer may be sent out from this country. The institute, as my hon. friend is no doubt aware, though aided by Government funds, is not a Government institution, but is administered by a Board. The list of teachers appears to show that most of them are natives of India. Engineering and technical instruction is already supported by Government at four engineering colleges in India, and at several technical schools. I have no doubt that, among the persons trained in these institutions, some will be fit to become teachers, although it may still be desirable from time to time to obtain instructors from Europe.