§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware 177 that reporters are excluded from all meetings of the Darjeeling Municipal Council unless they are ratepayers; and will he cause inquiry to be made into the matter.
(Answer.) I have no special information on the subject to which the hon. Member refers; but the law requires that the minute book of the Municipal Council shall be open to the inspection of ratepayers. I have no doubt but that this provision is complied with, and I do not propose to interfere with the discretion of the local Government as regards the class of reporters to be admitted.—(India Office.)