§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary of State for India, having regard to the fact that the chowkidari tax, which is levied for the remuneration of village watchmen, presses heavily on the agriculturists of Bengal, will he consider the expediency of communicating with the Government of India with a view to secure its remission.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The Police Commission have pointed out certain defects in the present regulations for the assessment of the local tax in question, and have made recommendations with the object of preventing it from pressing too heavily on the poor. These recommendations are, I understand, engaging the attention of the Bengal Government, but I can hold out no hope that the tax will be entirely remitted.