§ SIR H. COTTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether the average price per chest of Bengal opium at the Calcutta sales was Rs.1,461 in 1903–4, Rs.1,587 in 1904–5, and Rs. 1,434 in 1905–6; what was the average price during the first nine months of 1906–7; and what were the grounds of
†See Col. 826–7.1423 the estimate of the Government of India that the average price during the current year would be only Rs.1,125.
§ MR. MORLEYThe prices were as stated. For the first nine months of 1906–7 the average price has been Rs.1,382. The estimate for the current year was based on the fact that the March sales, which generally give a result in excess of the average for the ensuing year, only yielded Rs.1,258 the chest, and that for some months prices had declined.