§ MR. ELLIS GRIFFITH (Anglesey)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the notice of the intention of the Government of India to acquire certain areas in Council Street, Government Place, and Wellesley Place, Calcutta, for public purposes; whether the object of this acquisition is to find room for menial staff, band, and additional stable accommodation for the Viceroy during his residence in Calcutta, which is confined to a period of about four months only in each year; whether he is aware that the acquisition of these areas will displace several European firms which have been there carrying on business for over half a century, and inconvenience the European population of Calcutta by the closing of these places of business, and that there is no land in the immediate vicinity of the business part of Calcutta to which these displaced firms can remove; whether his attention has been drawn to the petition of the Calcutta Trades' Association of March 20th last, protesting against this interference with the business of the capital of India; and whether he will cause an inquiry to be instituted before the intended acquisition is carried into effect.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) I have seen the notification of the intention of the Government of India to acquire the areas referred to in the Question. The objects stated in the notification are to provide offices for the Viceroy's private and military secretaries; residential quarters for officers, subordinates, and servants attached to His Excellency's staff, and for the Viceroy's band; a hospital and dispensary for the staff; furniture and camp equipment storerooms; and extension of stabling for Government House. I have seen in the newspapers correspondence on the subject, and I understand that the Calcutta Trades' Association have been 1052 informed, in reply to their representation of March 20th last, that the firms mentioned in their petition will be permitted to remain in occupation, until the-expiry of their leases. It is probable-that the improvements now being carried out in Calcutta will eventually provide, eligible sites to which they can remove when their leases expire. It does not appear necessary to institute an inquiry at the present stage.