§ 8. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that for one year, beginning from 1st March, 1933, the Government has employed an additional police force, consisting of one inspector, 13 head constables, and 49 constables, at a total cost of Rs.33,792, in the Kanara district, the poorest district in the Bombay Presidency, and that a punitive tax is being assessed on all the inhabitants of this district from which. Government servants are exempt; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the poverty of this district, and the inability of the inhabitants to pay such a heavy additional tax, and take steps for their relief?
§ Sir S. HOAREIn order to put an end to a series of acts of lawlessness connected with agitation against the payment of land revenue, a force of 63 additional police has been quartered in two Talukas of the Kanara district. The cost will be recovered in accordance with the provisions of Section 15 of the Police Act, 1861, and exemption from such liability has not been confined to Government servants. I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the local Government in the matter.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that all the residents in this affected area ought to be penalised because of indiscretions on the part of a few?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am prepared to leave a question of that kind to the local Government.