§ SIR H. COTTON (Nottinghamshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the feeling which is being felt, and has been expressed in India, regarding the appointment to the office of Director of Public Instruction in Bengal, which will shortly be vacant; and whether he will take steps to provide that the appointment is conferred, in accordance with the practice of the past forty years, on an officer of the India Education Department.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Mr. JOHN MORLEY, Montrose Burgh)I am aware of the matter to which the Question refers. It has already been before the House on more than one occasion last session, when my predecessor explained the reasons which had actuated the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal in appointing a member of the Indian Civil 1302 service to succeed Sir A. Pedler as Director of Public Instruction in Bengal, and also that the appointment was purely temporary, and it was intended in two or three years time to revert to the practice of selecting a Director from the Indian Educational Service. I do not propose to interfere with the action of the Lieutenant-Governor in the matter.
§ SIR H. COTTONFor how long a period is the appointment?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYTwo or three years, I think.
§ SIR H. COTTONThat is very vague.