§ 4. Sir JOHN JARDINEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can give information regarding certain experiments made at Hyderabad, in the Deccan, by Mr. G. E. C. Wakefield, Director-General of Revenue, anent the production of a motor spirit from the flowers of the mhowra tree?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Secretary of State has received no information on this subject.
§ 5. Sir J. JARDINEasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in November, 1915, the Director-General of Ordnance in India made a favourable report to the Government of India on certain experiments and results made and obtained at Hyderabad, in the Deccan, by Mr. G. E. C. Wakefield, Director-General of Revenue, to His Highness the Nizam and Professor M'Ewen, of the Nizam College, regarding 394 an Indian raw material useful for munitions; whether these experiments and results have been tested in this country and the report submitted to the India Office; and whether he is in a position to say what steps have since been taken?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Secretary of State is not aware of the reports to which the hon. Member refers. But it is the case that Mr. Wakefield brought to the notice of the Government of India the possibility of using a certain material for the manufacture of munitions. Experiments while showing the utility of this material have not yet established its superiority over other materials, and consequently no final decision as to its employment has yet been taken.
§ Sir J. JARDINEHas the Secretary of State seen the report in the "Times of India" as to the result of this, and as to the establishment of a factory in India?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI will ask my right hon. Friend if he has seen it?