§ 67. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for India whether, taking into consideration the burden imposed upon officers of the Army and Imperial Services in India by import duties on articles of European food and clothing, he will suggest to the Government of India the adoption of the system in vogue in the French colonial empire, where French colonial employees are permitted to import such articles for their own consumption duty free?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)My right hon. Friend is sorry that he cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion.
§ Sir A. KNOXSurely it would be possible, as this concession would mean very little to the revenue of the Government of India, to help these people who are struggling in very hard circumstances?
§ Mr. BUTLERI feel sure that, if my hon. and gallant Friend were to take the circumstances of these officials into consideration, he would find it very difficult to differentiate between their circumstances and the rest of the community.
§ Mr. MABANESeeing that the import duties have caused a reduction in the price of food, would not the adoption of this suggestion be a hardship on the officers?