§ MR. CAINEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been called to a statement in the twenty-sixth half-yearly Report of the Bishnath Tea Company, Limited, Assam, which said that fifty-one deaths occurred in the gardens of the company during the half-year, including several deaths from excessive drinking at the Government grog shops; is he aware that the Commissioner of Excise for Assam, in his last published Report, 1901, says in 142 paragraph 8 that the consumption of country spirits shows a net increase of 7.37 per cent. over the previous year, and in paragraph 11 that endeavours were again made by the Department to settle country spirit shops on tea gardens; and that the total excise revenue of the province was the highest figure vet attained; and, seeing that the excise revenues of Assam have increased 35 per cent. during the last ten years, and that the Tea Planters' Association have made repeated protests against the wax-in which the Government force liquor shops upon them, will he state what steps are being taken, if any, to remedy this growing consumption of liquor.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONI have not seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers in the first part of his Question. The Excise Commissioner's Report states that the increase of 7.37 per cent. does not relate to the consumption of spirits, but to the revenue, and that the Commissioner states that it was due to keener competition at the auction sales of licences. Country-made spirits are consumed in Assam almost exclusively by the immigrant coolies, and the consumption, as well as the revenue must tend to rise with their numbers. On the suggestion of the Assam branch of the Tea Association, attempts have for many years been made to get the planters to take control of the liquor shops already existing in the vicinity of their gardens. I consider this plan likely to conduce to good order and sobriety, and I am not aware that any protests have been made against it by the Tea Planters' Association. Any complaints as to the location or the management of liquor shops have received, and will continue to receive, prompt attention.
§ MR. CAINEIS there any necessity whatever for forcing these shops on the planters who do not want them?
§ LORD G. HAMILTONMy information is that they are wanted.