Sir HERBERT ROBERTSasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has seen the notice published in the official "South Canara Gazette," of September, 1915, of the intention to open new arrack, shops in the villages of Shambur, Perambale, Karindala, and Kokarady, as from the 1st April, 1916; whether he will state the ground upon which this action has been taken; and whether the proposal to open these shops was submitted to the Advisory Committees in the localities specified?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have seen the notice referred to, but am unable to say on what grounds it is proposed to open these shops. There are no rural Excise Advisory Committees in South Canara, and the usual procedure of inviting local opinion by notice seems to have been followed.