§ 10. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have at any time received offers from rulers of Native states of the services of skilled master builders to assist in the designs and erection of the new Delhi; whether such offers have been declined; and, if so, for what reasons?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. C. Roberts)The Government of India have informed the Secretary of State that no such offers have been received.
§ 11. Mr. KINGasked whether there are now in the employment of the Public Works Department any master builders equal in experience and attainments to those who are now building the great mosque for Her Highness the Begum of Bhopal; and, if so, why the services of such master builders are not used for original work in the construction of public buildings in India?
§ Mr. ROBERTSThe point raised in the first question is one of opinion, and does not admit of a definite answer. As regards the second question, the requirements of the Department of Public Works as to the preparation of detailed plans and estimates and the carrying out of work make it impossible to hand over a project to Indian master craftsmen following the customary methods exemplified in the case of the Bhopal mosque, but the Government propose to utilise the services of men of this class on the new capital, so far as may be practicable with due regard to these requirements.