§ 36. Colonel YATEasked if the hon. Gentleman will say what are the present prospects of an extension of the metre-gauge railway into Karachi, so as to link up that port with the great metre-gauge railway systems of Rajputana and Northern India?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThere is no intention at present to extend the metre-gauge railway in Karachi.
§ Colonel YATEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Chamber of Commerce for Karachi has been long agitating for this small railway to be linked up?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI am aware that this is an old problem. Of course, in the building of railways every scheme is separate, and I can only say at present that there is no intention of extending the metre gauge railway into Karachi.
§ Mr. LLOYDIn view of the reduction this year in the expenditure on railways, I wish to ask if the hon. Gentleman can agree to this suggestion?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe reduction of expenditure is a reason for not doing that.
§ Mr. LLOYDIn view of the fact that only a very small number of railways have been constructed in India this year, can the hon. Gentleman possibly give more attention to this question?
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the vast importance of Karachi as a sea port?