§ Mr. A. SHAWasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can now state the result arrived at as a consequence of the deliberations of the Indian legislature 468W on the proposed surcharge on traffic carried by railway or inland waterways; and whether country boats are brought within the scope of this tax?
§ Mr. MONTAGUIn the Indian Finance Act recently passed it is provided that the surcharge on railway goods traffic and on coaching (other than passenger) traffic shall be at the rate of 2½ annas per rupee of freight, except in the case of food-grains and pulses, fodder and firewood, which are exempted. The surcharge on similar traffic carried by inland steam vessels is to be 1¼ anna per rupee of freight, subject to the same exemptions. Country boat traffic is not brought within the scope of the tax.