§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he is aware that the average income of the native inhabitants of British India does not exceed ¾d. per 65 head per day; and that over a very large area land is impoverished for want of manure, owing to the poverty of the cultivators, who cannot afford to buy stock and have to borrow money at ruinous prices of interest to pay rents and taxes; and what steps, if any, he is taking to reduce the military expenditure so that he may reduce the taxes.
§ MR. MORLEYI am afraid that it would be hopeless for me to attempt in a reply to a Question to deal with the issues involving matters of such enormous controversy raised by the hon. Member. The military expenditure of India is a subject that is receiving my careful attention. Meanwhile I may point out that in three out of the last four Budgets (including the one which will shortly be discussed in this House) important reductions have been made in taxation in India and large sums have recently been devoted to measures for agricultural improvement and instruction.
§ *MR. LUPTONasked if the late Governor-General of India had not made a statement on this subject.
§ MR. MORLEYI cannot say.