§ Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for India if he will state exactly 1878W how many additional steamers have been allotted to the Bombay run by the Ministry of Shipping and how many passengers will be carried by these ships; also how many passengers it is estimated will be carried respectively by the regular steamship lines actively co-operating, the smaller boats of the Peninsular and Oriental and British India Companies, and the prize ships that are to be similarly employed; and whether any further reduction beyond the lately announced 20 per cent. in the cost of these passages will be allowed on these ships?
§ Colonel L. WILSONI have been asked to reply. The following is a summary of the special arrangements made up to the present for passengers from India in order to get them home before the hot weather:
Accommodation provided in troopships brought home from Australia viâ India 1,200 Three ships specially sent to India 1,500 Three Prize ships 200 Additional accommodation in four Peninsular and Oriental and British India ships 1,000 Additional accommodation in a Bibby Line ship 105 R.I.M.S. "Dufferin" 500 Ambulance Transports over 300 A recent telegram from India states that all urgent cases are now provided for, except about 800, for whom another ship is being sent specially to India. It should be added that the above relates only to ships expected to leave India during April, and that the diversion viâ India of troopships homeward bound from Australia and the use of prizeships will be continued in order to provide for as many as possible of the remaining passengers, whose conveyance is, however, less urgent. I am informed that there is no prospect of any further reduction in rates.