§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)To ask the Secretary of State for India if he will state to what amount the abolition of the Pandhri Tax in the Central Provinces of India will afford relief to agriculturists; and how many of the assessees are small shopkeepers with incomes of 250 rupees, or £16 13s. 4d. per annum.
(Answer.) The Pandhri Tax was essentially a tax on petty traders and manufacturers; its abolition may have given some indirect relief to agriculture, but, if so, only to a small extent. The total number of persons assessed to the tax at the time of its abolition was only about 21,000; but I am unable to say how many of these enjoyed the income specified in the Question.—(India Office.)