§ 66. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that in July, 1927, the Government of Burma strongly recommended that the Government of India should restore Burma allowance to the chaplains at Rangoon because of the hardship imposed on those officials by its withdrawal, and that in forwarding the case to the Government of India the Government of Burma pointed out that, in their opinion, the 10 years' period of the Secretary of State sanction should not be disturbed and that they themselves had maintained that principle when they revised the 1922 scale of Rangoon allowances in 1926; and whether he will consider the carrying out of the recommendations of the Government of Burma?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)In 1925 the General Orders governing the grant of compensatory allowances admissible to officers under the control of the Central Government were applied to chaplains who should be posted to Rangoon after that date but not to existing incumbents. I was not aware that any representation on the subject had been made by the Government of Burma, but the Government of India are at present examining the whole question of the grant of these allowances, and will no doubt give full consideration to the views of the Local Government. My Noble Friend hopes shortly to receive a full report from the Government of India on the subject. When this has been considered, I shall be happy to communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the Noble Lord aware that a chaplain who proceeds on leave from a station in Burma other than Rangoon gets a higher leave salary than one who goes on leave from Rangoon?
§ Earl WINTERTONI do not know that that arises out of the question. A careful search failed to disclose to me 1725 that any chaplains were posted to Rangoon after 1925. Therefore, the alleged hardship to which my hon. and gallant Friend has referred is merely a hypothetical hardship.