§ Mr. HART-DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any information as to certain fiscal arrangements which give a monopoly of cotton milling to certain mills made by the States of Dhrangadra and Limbdi, in Kathiawar; whether he is aware of the effect of these arrangements upon the cotton trade in the British State of Wadhwan; and whether they constitute an infraction of the rule hitherto laid down by the paramount Power that the local arrangements of the individual States in Kathiawar should not interfere with the freedom of trade throughout the Province as a whole; 2250W and whether the Secretary of State will make inquiries on the matter, and take such action as the circumstances may render desirable?
The MASTER of ELIBANKThe Secretary of State is aware of the facts to which my hon. Friend refers and which have been the subject of discussion between the Agent to the Governor of Bombay and the Chiefs of the States concerned. The Secretary of State does not consider that the circumstances are such at present as to call for further inquiry or to warrant any departure from the appoved policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of native States.