5. Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to paragraphs 26 and 27 of chapter III. of the Bengal Excise Manual, 1910, Vol. II., which provides that in the settlement of country liquor shops, when the bid reaches a figure beyond which no profit can be made, the presiding officer should stop the auction and exercise his discretion as to the person to whom the settlement should be given; whether he is aware that the Board of Revenue of Bihar and Orissa has issued a circular, dated 29th October, 1912, in which this restriction of the auction system is countermanded; whether it is in the public interest that vendors should be allowed to pay excessive licensing fees and so create the temptation to recoup themselves by a a resort to illegal practices; whether restrictions have been imposed upon the auction system in other provinces with salutary results; and whether, in view of these facts, he will make representations to the Government of India with a view to securing the readoption of the rule by the Government of Bihar and Orissa?
§ Mr. HAROLD BAKERThe Secretary of State is aware of the Bengal rule. He has not seen the circular of the Board of Revenue, Bihar and Orissa, to which my hon. Friend refers, and cannot therefore say what changes have been adopted or on what grounds, but he will make inquiry.