§ 8. Sir J. D. REESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the finance member of the Governor-General's Council, in introducing the Budget for 1914–15, said that cultivation of opium still continues in China in several of the provinces, and that there is still a large demand for opium and a considerable amount of local production; whether the Government of India has been constrained to revert to 13,200 chests, the formerly obtaining number, as against 9,000 chests ex ported last year to Far Eastern countries other than China, on the ground that the larger export is not in excess of legitimate requirements; and whether, in view of these facts, His Majesty's Government will advise the Government of India to proceed with deliberation in their present policy, to consider its effects in the substitution of cocaine, and to arrange for the speedy disposal of the stocks at Shanghai?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State has seen the passage in the Indian financial statement containing the remarks to which the hon. Member refers. He does not consider that instructions from him are required on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes the Secretary of State not agree with the statements made by the finance member of the Viceroy's 7 Council, and is it intended in face of those statements to pursue precisely the same policy?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe Secretary of State confines himself to saying that he does not consider that the instructions which the hon. Member suggests are required.