§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a petition has been sent to the Municipal Corporation of Bombay, signed by several public men of the city, asking the Bombay Corporation to re-consider and withdraw their recommendations to the Government of Bombay to enforce re-vaccination; whether the corporation have reconsidered the matter; and, if so, will he say what decision they have come to; and, if they still adhere to their decision to recommend a compulsory re-vaccination law, whether he will advise the Governor of Bombay to refuse his assent to any such recommendations, in view of the opposition such an Act would encounter?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have received no information about the presentation of the petition referred to by the hon. Member, or as to any action that may have been taken upon it by the Bombay Municipal Corporation. It would be contrary to public policy in respect of the Legislative Councils of India to make a communication to the Bombay Government at this stage of the question in the sense suggested by the hon. Member. Should legislation be considered advisable, the Secretary of State will be consulted in the ordinary course of business before any Bill is introduced.