§ 9. Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLasked whether the fact has been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for India that, while the pay of the engineers of the Public Works Department and of the police has been augmented in recent years, the pay of the East Indian Railway engineers, despite increased responsibility, remains what it was in the early days of the Indian 217 railway system, while the pay of the subordinate staff of the Indian railways has been increased; and whether, having regard to the claims of the East Indian Railway engineers to a higher scale of pay in accordance with the arrangements made in this respect for the raising of the pay of officials in other departments, the Secretary of State will take steps to secure this concession and thus remove a grievance?
Mr. BAKERThe salaries of these officers are fixed by the East India Railway Company, subject to the final sanction of the Railway Board. Questions relating to them have been recently considered by the Railway Board, who are of opinion that no increase is called for. The Secretary of State does not propose to take any action in the matter.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLWas this increase refused because it might cause discontent in connection with private companies?
Mr. BAKERI have no knowledge that that is the case. The Secretary of State carefully considered the matter.