§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Secretary of State for India if his attention has been directed to a telegram from Delhi stating that the Government of India have urged in the most emphatic manner the difficulties in the way of procuring homeward passages and the exorbitancy of the rates of passage; that the local Governments and the chambers of commerce have made forcible representations to the Government of India on the subject, and that public indignation prevails; and whether, in view of the urgent nature of the problem, he will endeavour by all means in his power to hasten a solution of it?
§ Mr. MONTAGUI fully realise the difficulty and urgency of the question. The rates have been fixed by the Ministry of Shipping, which is also responsible for the provision of accommodation. For more than two months I have been impressing on the Ministry the serious position of Europeans in India who, after years of tropical conditions, have as yet been unable to procure passages home; and in my communications with the Ministry I have done all I could to reinforce the urgent representations made by the Government of India. The Ministry is doing its best to provide accommodation. I am doing everything in my power to find a remedy for the great hardships involved by the present high rates.