§ SIR SEYMOUR KING (Hull, Central)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience which is involved at Poona, particularly to junior married military officers, with regard to house rents, the average rate a married man has to pay being stated at 150 rupees a month, 1098 or £20 a year; and to the fact that in the N cavalry lines there are only the mess and five bungalows, one for the commissioned officer's house, one for the second in command, and two others suitable only for bachelors, who living at the mess have a prior claim, while the nearest available bungalows for married officers are from one-and-a-half to two miles distant and over two level railway crossings; and whether, seeing that in Presidency towns, such as Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras where similar conditions exist as to high rent and expenditure, relief is afforded by a Presidency house allowance, he will explain why this cannot be afforded also at Poona, or some steps be taken to provide cheaper accommodation.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The inconvenience experienced at Poona has not hitherto come under my notice. I will make inquiries on the subject.