§ Mr. NEWMANasked whether the sites of cantonments for British troops were recently selected in order that the troops might be removed from crowded centres of native population; and whether, seeing that such cantonments, notably Mian Mir, Rawal Pindi, Umballa, and Meerut, are now occupied as well by a large native population, he will state on what terms British officers are housed in such cantonments by payment of rent to native landlords or on payment to Government of a fixed rate for quarters?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe cantonments of Mian Mir—now known as the Lahore Cantonment—of Rawal Pindi, of Umballa, and of Meerut have all been occupied by troops for well over half a century, and cannot be said to have been "recently selected." In cantonments where Government quarters exist they are occupied by officers at rents which are fixed according to the rank of the officer. Where Government quarters do not exist or are insufficient officers rent houses from their owners. Such rents necessarily vary with the class of accommodation which the house affords.
§ Mr. NEWMANDo the officers rent the houses in those places from natives or from Englishmen?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI do not know, Sir; from the owners of the property.
§ Mr. NEWMANasked what special regulations, if any, exist as regards the conduct and control of natives resident in the bazaars of Indian cantonments; and 2124 whether any dustin or fee is paid by them to any official, or whether they pay rent to the Government for any dwelling within such compound that they may occupy?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe special regulations regarding the conduct and control of natives resident in the bazaars of Indian cantonments are embodied in the Cantonments Act, 1889 and in the Cantonment Code, 1909, issued by the Governor-General in Council under the powers conveyed by Sections 25, 26, and 27 of that Act. The only fees required of such residents are those sanctioned by that Code. Their dwellings are not necessarily or even usually the properly of Government.