§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether steps will be taken such as will admit of the ratepayers at Darjeeling being empowered to elect their own representatives, especially in view of the fact that, out of twenty-six members of the Municipal Council, all of whom are nominated, several have left the district, and only five are in the habit of attending meetings of the Council.
(Answer.) The municipality of Darjeeling is one for which the system of election is not considered suitable by the Government of Bengal, and I do not think that it would be advisable to interfere with their discretion in this matter. As to the statement made at the end of the hon. Member's Question, I have no information enabling me to verify its accuracy.—(India Office.)