Sir SEYMOUR KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will make inquiries as to the present pay of the Northern India Salt Department; whether he is aware that the maximum salary of an assistant superintendent is Rs.175 per mensem, a rate of salary which no mercantile house in India would give to its youngest European assistant, and of a superintendent, after long years, only Rs.400 per mensem; whether he is aware that the service requires educational and moral and physical qualifications, and that its officers are exposed in the discharge of their duties to dangers and inconveniences arising from varying conditions of climate and other causes; and, seeing that the rates of pay have remained practically unaltered for forty-three years, whereas during that period the cost of living in India has more than doubled, whether he will take some steps to ameliorate the conditions mentioned and to bring the pay of this Department more nearly into harmony with that enjoyed by members of the kindred services of, say, opium or survey?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe Secretary of State is not aware that the salaries and other conditions of service in the Northern India Salt Department are materially inferior to those ruling in other similar departments of the Provincial Civil Service in India. The work of most of the officers is of a routine and comparatively unimportant character. To the more important and responsible posts local allowances are attached. In some cases free quarters, and in others house rent, are 175W given. Superintendents are eligible for promotion to the superior administrative posts. The conditions of the service were carefully examined in 1900, and such changes as were considered necessary were then made. The Secretary of State does not propose to take the action suggested in the question.