§ MR. EUGENE WASON () Clackmannan and KinrossI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will say whether the Council of India were unanimous in approval of the proposal in June last to charge the revenue of India with the cost of a large portion of the British troops then intended to be stationed in South Africa as part of its permanent garrion; and, if not, can copies of any opinion or dissent, with reasons for such dissent recorded by any members of the Council on that occasion, be placed before Parliament, as provided for in Section 23 of the Government of India Act of 1858, together with the Secretary of State's opinion and his reasons for such approval as provided for in the same section.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe Council of India were not unanimous in approval of the proposal that India should, on certain conditions, contribute towards the maintenance of a garrison force in South Africa. Two members of Council recorded dissents under Section 23 of the Government of India Act, 1858. The section also gives power to the Secretary of State to require that his opinion, and the reasons for the same, shall be entered on the Minutes; but my predecessor did not exercise this power on the occasion to which the Question refers. The Question not now being before us and the proposal having been dropped. I do not propose to lay Papers.