18. Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the annual consumption of country spirit in Bombay city is 443 1139 gallons per thousand of the population, whereas in the city of Madras it is only 40.9 gallons per thousand; whether he can state the reasons for this disparity; and what steps are being taken to reduce the consumption in Bombay?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSThe statement in the papers recently presented, from which the hon. Member's figures appear to have been taken, is inaccurate, as the figure of 40.9 gallons represented the consumption of the Madras Presidency, not that of the city of Madras. The latter was returned at 170 gallons per thousand of the population in the year 1913–14. The smaller consumption of country spirit in Madras city as compared with Bombay is in part at least due to the predilection of its inhabitants for toddy liquor. In Bombay, with the view of restricting consumption, the taxation of country spirits has been raised and the system of licensing altered.
§ Sir J. D. REESMay I ask if the ion. Gentleman entirely ignores the superior ethical code which prevails in the Madras Presidency?
§ Mr. C. ROBERTSI think I limited myself to saying that the smaller consumption in Madras was "in part at least due to the predilection of its inhabitants to toddy liquor."