Captain FABERasked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he would state whether the Administrator-General in Bengal can use his discretion in dealing with property which he may sell or keep as he thinks best, setting wills aside; whether he is at liberty to spend or retain money belonging to estates, and is not accountable for the same; whether his attention has been called to the will of 994 Mr. Knox Johnson, principal of Queen's College, Jubbulpore, of which will probate was granted, who died 19th June, 1906, and to whose widow no communication was sent until 4th October, 1906, after all the effects had been disposed of at low prices; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (The Master of Elibank)As regards the realising of assets, the Administrator-General in Bengal is under the same Administrator-General, is under the same obligations as a private executor or administrator: his powers and duties are laid down in the Indian Acts, No. 2 of 1874 and No. 5 of 1902. The Secretary of State and my predecessor, the right hon. Member for East Perthshire, have personally looked into this case, and Mrs. Knox Johnson has been informed that the Secretary of State is unable to interfere with the discretion of the Administrator-General in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by law.