§ 22. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in the course of a public lecture delivered on the 21st instant in London, a member of the Public Works Department of India stated that he had never had difficulty in securing clever mistris, or master-craftsmen, and that some of a superior order existed who could carry out independent building work; and whether the Government of India and the selected architects will be instructed to use the services of such master-craftsmen in building the new Delhi?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)The Secretary of State is informed that a statement of the kind was made in a paper on Indian architecture read by a member of the Indian Public Works Department. He understands that the Government of India wishes to see Indian craftsmen utilised as fully as possible in the building of the new capital.
§ 26. Mr. KINGasked whether the Government of India maintains successful schools of art in India but not a single school of architecture in the whole Indian Empire; and whether, in connection with the building of New Delhi, an attempt will be made to attract, educate, and employ native youths anxious to take up architecture as a profession?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe attention of the Government of India will be drawn to my hon. Friend's suggestion.
§ 27. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has already held an open competition for official residences in 517 the New Delhi and that the prize has been awarded to Ram Rup, a master builder, said to be, like all the Jaipur draftsmen, as clever with tool as with pencil; whether he will bring these facts to the notice of the selected architects for the New Delhi; and if the design of Ram Rup will be utilised in any building shortly to be erected?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State has no official information. But, assuming the facts to be correct, they will be well known to the Delhi'Executive Committee, under whose directions the buildings will be constructed. The Secretary of State is unable to say whether the prize design will be utilised.
§ Mr. KINGWill the hon. Gentleman take some steps to put the Government in India and the India Office in constant communication upon these points as to the development of the plans for Delhi and the work in progress there, because it so often happens that there is ignorance of what is going on in the other quarter?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes, Sir, but my hon. Friend will understand that if you give to the Government of India the responsibility of carrying out certain works and ask them to set up a committee to supervise the work, it is impossible to continually interfere with the discretion you have deliberately given them. The questions my hon. Friend asks in this House and the answers given to them are fully reported in all the Anglo-Indian newspapers.
§ 23. Mr. KINGasked whether Ram Singh, who succeeded Mr. L. Kipling as principal of the school of art at Lahore, was employed by Queen Victoria to decorate the ballroom at Osborne House, and to design and carry out the artistic decorations for the recent durbars; and whether Ram Singh will be consulted in connection with the building of the new Delhi?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State understands that the facts are generally as stated in the first part of the question. As regards the second question he has no information as to the intentions of the Government of India.