§ 74. Sir J. D. REESasked into what contract or agreement the India Office have entered with Mr. Mallet; whether that gentleman's pension terms are those obtaining in the Civil Service in respect of members thereof who have entered by the usual gate; whether the appointment is to be permanent in character; and whether the supervision of Indian students is now to be regarded as a department of India Office administration and a regularly recurring charge on the Indian taxpayer?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIt is not customary to make appointments to the Home Civil Service under special contract or agreement, and no departure from the usual practice was made in the case of Mr. Mallet. His appointment is a permanent one, and the usual pension conditions apply to it. The supervision of Indian students by an officer appointed by the Secretary of State, whose salary is defrayed from Indian revenues, came into force in 1909, and the new appointment, as I have explained to the House, marks an expansion of the system already established.
§ Sir J. D. REESWhat reason has the Secretary of State to suppose that the natives of India wish to pay for this grandmotherly supervision of Hindus who have adopted the habits of natives of Europe?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State acts upon his own responsibility. In this matter he was expanding the system of 2655 looking after students in this country on the advice of a Select Committee of his Council.
§ Sir J. D. REESHas any communication been held with the Government of India to show that the Indian taxpayer wishes them to take this step?