HC Deb 22 June 1915 vol 72 cc1050-1
41. Sir HERBERT ROBERTS

asked the Secretary for India whether he is aware that the Deputy-Commissioner of Amritsar, in consultation with the municipal committee, recommended the removal of all the liquor shops of Amritsar to sites outside the city boundaries and that this proposal was approved by the Commissioner of the Lahore division; whether he is aware that the recommendation has been vetoed by the Financial Commissioner of the Punjab; and whether, in view of paragraph 6 of the Secretary of State's dispatch of 29th May, 1914, as to the treatment of special cases in town or country in which it might seem desirable and likely to be in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants that the ward or special area should be kept altogether immune from the sale of intoxicants, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Chamberlain)

The Government of India have informed me that the Deputy-Commissioner's recommendation has not been vetoed by the Financial Commissioner. It is at present under his consideration.

42. Sir H. ROBERTS

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the Hon. Mr. R. P. Paranjpye gave notice of his intention to move a resolution at the meeting of the Bombay Legislative Council on the 13th March with reference to the opening of a liquor shop at Ghoda, near Poona, in opposition to the wishes of the inhabitants; whether this resolution was disallowed because it related to a merely local matter; and whether, in view of the interest taken in Excise questions through out the Bombay Presidency, he will give the grounds upon which this decision was arrived at?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have seen a statement in the Indian Press to the effect mentioned by the hon. Baronet. As resolutions disallowed by the President of the Bombay Legislative Council are not entered in the Council proceedings, I have no official information as to the circumstances of the case, but presume that the proposed resolution was held by the President not to comply with the rules of business, which restrict the moving of resolutions to matters of general public interest. The restriction would not have been applicable had a question been put.