§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that not only do the ancient Zemindars of South India protest that their immemorial and judicially recognised rights will be seriously infringed and curtailed by the Estates Land Bill now before the Legislative Council of the Governor of Madras, and that several provisions of this Bill will in fact alter entirely to their prejudice the provisions of their permanent sanads, but that many Europeans and others, companies and individuals, who have entered into contracts with such Zemindars, and have invested capital in Zemindaris on the faith of the permanency of the permanent settlement, apprehend that they too are likely to suffer great loss by the above-mentioned Bill, should it become law; and whether, in view of these facts, he will consider the propriety of advising the Government of Madras, the head of which has not long since taken office, to postpone the consideration of this subject till the next session of its Legislative Council.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) The Bill is at present under my consideration, and I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject; but the representation to which the hon. Member alludes will not be lost sight of.