HL Deb 04 March 1879 vol 244 cc125-7
LORD WALSINGHAM

asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information which would lead them to anticipate a scarcity of grain in the Punjab during the present year; and, whether any precautions have been taken to provide against the possible emergency of a famine in that district? He was led to put the Question by information which he had received from a reliable source as to a condition of things in the North-West of India, which, if truthfully represented, seemed to demand the careful consideration and early attention of the Government. He was informed by a gentleman long resident in the Punjab district, in a letter dated January the 29th, that no snow or rain had fallen there since September; that the cold weather crops were dying for want of the usual winter rains; and that on the mountains above there was no heaped-up snow to supply the rivers in the hot weather. Now, their Lordships were well aware that in that country the chief food of the people came from the crops of rice which they grew, and that if the rivers were not swollen by melting snow, that irrigation upon which the cultivation of rice entirely depended would become impossible. Enormous quantities of grain had been exported from the Punjab during the last two years to feed the starving populations of Madras and Bombay, and as there was now no surplus store in that district, a failure of crops would involve the necessity of importation or the alternative of famine. Moreover, it was difficult to see whence a sufficient supply could be derived to replace the recent exportations, if the emergency should unfortunately arise. The means of information at the command of the Government were naturally so much better than those which could be derived from any private sources that he was anxious—first, to ascertain whether they had received any confirmation of the statements to which he had called their Lordships' attention; and, secondly, to express a hope that should those statements be corroborated, they would not permit any unusual calls upon the Revenues of India to deter them from making timely and full provision against a repetition of one of those great calamities which had so lately fallen upon other districts of that Empire.

VISCOUNT CRANBROOK

On my attention being called to this subject by the Notice on the Paper, I put myself in communication with the Governor General by telegraph, and I have received from him a reply which brings down our information to this very morning. My noble Friend need not be the least apprehensive that the Government of India will not be looking with anxious eyes wherever there are the least signs of famine. The Government of India is all the more alive to this question because of what has already happened; and I can assure my noble Friend that the greatest care is being taken to provide against any emergency that may occur in the various Presidencies. There is no doubt that there has been a failure of the winter rains; but the consequences, I hope, will not be so serious as my noble Friend seems to anticipate. The Governor General has sent two telegrams. The first is as follows:— Lieutenant Governor has just visited great part of Punjab. No present apprehension of famine. Present situation.—Autumn harvest fair. Winter rains very scanty and spring crop prospects thereby affected. During past fortnight rain fell in parts and will do good, but still withheld in Delhi territory. Central and Western Punjab.—Prices dear throughout Punjab. Rain in upper districts will still do good, as harvest there is late. Main spring crops cut in April.—Estimate of expected yield not available. Central Provinces.—Spring crop cut and exceeds expectations, which is good augury for crops elsewhere. In Cashmere, where dearth expected, Punjab Government have arranged to send 4,000 tons of grain. The second telegram, which is apparently in reply to one sent by the Viceroy to inquire as to the failure of the February rains, is couched in the following terms:— North West Prospects.—Recent rain more widespread, though not sufficiently general. Autumn crop good and furnishes a staple food of poor. Prices dear. Famine not apprehended. Scarcity will probably be felt in Agra and adjoining districts. This information shows that the Government of India are doing their utmost to provide against any contingency such as that which the noble Lord apprehends.