12. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, owing to defects in drafting, the Religious Endowments Act of 1863 has failed to secure the efficient management of the endowments of non-Christian religious bodies, and that abuses have arisen in connection therewith, and that this maladministration has been a matter of complaint by leading members of the native community; whether in the province of Madras, where these endowments are most numerous, committees were appointed in 1876, 1884, and 1888, presided over by a civilian member of the Executive Council, and several Bills to remedy this state of matters were drafted; that other Bills 2105 were introduced in 1896, 1897, and 1908, and another Bill was drafted in 1910 by the Hon. T. V. Seshagiri Aiyar, and afterwards redrafted in consultation with Sir Harold Stuart, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Madras; whether this Bill, with the approval of the Government of Madras, was submitted for the sanction of the Government of India; what reply was given by the Government of India; and whether the Government of India proposes to take any steps to redress this grievance?
Mr. BAKERThe Secretary of State is aware of the frequent discussion on this question, but has received no official report on recent proposals to legislate in the Madras Council.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill the hon. Gentleman make inquiries in regard to the last part of the question?