Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been directed to the Report of the Select Committee on The Bengal Excise Bill, 1909; whether representations were made by the Indian members of the Committee in favour of the statutory creation of licensing advisory committees and of the raising of the limit of age for the employment of children on licensed premises; and whether, in view of the appointment of the new Bengal Legislative Council, the Government of India will consider the desirability of obtaining an expression of the views of that body upon the points at issue before the Bill passes into law?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (The Master of Elibank)The representations mentioned by my hon. Friend are being fully discussed by the Select Committee and the Legislative Council, and the Secretary of State does not think it advisable to refer these questions back for the consideration of the new Council, with the effect of postponing the enactment of the amended Excise Law.