§ 16. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory effect of the allocation of firewood for household consumption in Madras on the basis of family income instead of the size of families and the hardship to the poorest section of the community involved in this; and whether a different basis has now been adopted.
§ The Secretary of State for India (Mr. Amery)The rationing of firewood in Madras City is a matter for the Madras Government and is not one which would ordinarily be brought to my notice. I understand that a special officer has recently been appointed to organise the supply arrangements, and that certain costs of supply are being borne by Government to avoid increasing the price 1488 to the consumer. The basis of the ration—which has been carefully considered by the Government of Madras so as to accord with local conditions—is related to the size of the family as well as to the income, which of course is largely governed by the numbers in the family.
§ Mr. HarveyHas there not been hardship in the last cold season owing to the size of income being the governing factor? Did not that result in great distress?