§ 4. Lieut.-Colonel Sir WALTER SMILESasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the price of opium varies from Es.20 per sen in Mewar to Rs.240 per sen in Pudukkotai, he will take all possible steps to enforce a standard price for opium all over the Indian Empire?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe possibility of taking steps for the equalisation of the selling price of opium in the Indian States, with that prevailing in the surrounding districts of British India, has engaged the attention of the Government of India for some time past. As my hon. and gallant Friend is no doubt aware, there are divergencies of price in the ProvInces of British India, where its fixation rests with the local Governments.