§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has yet received any information with regard to the case reported some weeks ago of a Bombay mill operative who was fined ten rupees for scraping up half an ounce of salt from the sea shore; whether it is necessary for the protection of the revenue from salt tax that such prosecutions should take place; and, if so, whether he will press upon the Government of India the importance of reducing public expenditure in order that this tax may be altogether abolished.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) I have not yet received the information which I undertook to obtain from the Government of Bombay, and I am not at present in a position to express an opinion as to the necessity for such †See (4)Debates, clxxviii., 668. 444 prosecutions. The Government of India are acquainted with my views on the subject of restricting public expenditure in the interest of the Indian taxpayer, and on the subject of the salt duty; and these questions will continue to receive my closest attention.