§ 6. Colonel DAYasked the Undersecretary of State for India if there have been any prosecutions in Bombay for the three months ending 30th November for the illicit sale of cocaine and, if so, will he state the names of the defendants and the punishment inflicted on them if they were convicted?
§ Earl WINTERTONCurrent reports of such cases are not officially received except of those arising from Customs seizures at the ports which are required for communication to the Secretariat of the League of Nations. The particulars asked for in regard to four cases under this head which have occurred since 31st August, 1925, and led to convictions, will, with the hon. Member's permission, he circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, as the information is in tabular form. I have seen reports in the Press of a recent case in which G. H. King, J. E. Turnell and E. L. Messias appear to have been convicted and sentenced respectively to nine months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,000, to four months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500 or a further three months' imprisonment, and to three months' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.500 or three months' further imprisonment.
§ Following are the particulars promised:
§ by floods in Puri except what has appeared in the Press. He understands, however, that relief measures have been undertaken, and does not doubt that the local authorities are doing everything possible in the matter.
§ Colonel DAYIs the Noble Lord aware that many of the population here are having to subsist on uncooked water-lilies?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have seen some very misleading attacks in the Press by some gentlemen in India, including a Rev. Mr. Andrews, upon the local government in connection with this matter. As far as my noble Friend has any information, it is essentially a matter for the local government, and that government has taken every possible step to deal with the matter.