§ 3. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India whether, considering that it has already been announced that Sir James Meston, the finance member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, is coining home to give evidence on behalf of the Government of India before the Joint Select Committee on the Government of India Bill, and Sir Michael O'Dwyer, the late Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab has already arrived home to give evidence on behalf of the Punjab, he will now state who are the representatives of the other local Governments in India who are to come home or are already at home to give evidence before that Select Committee on behalf of their respective local Governments?
§ Mr. MONTAGUMy hon. and gallant Friend is in error in supposing that Sir J. Meston has been summoned home in order to give evidence before the Joint Committee on the Government of India Bill. He is here to advise me on various matters relating to the Bill and the rules to be made under it. He is at the disposal of the Committee, but it rests with the Committee to decide whether it will hear witnesses and whom it will hear. There are several gentlemen at present in this country well qualified to explain the views of the Local Governments, if the Committee 1780 desire to supplement the written statements already before it. But no representatives are being sent home for the purpose.
§ Colonel YATEWill the Governors of the various Provinces in. India be permitted to nominate their own representatives to give evidence in this country?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe only constitutional representative in Parliament of the Governors, Lieutenant-Governors or the Viceroy is the Secretary of State.