§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Secretary of State for India if the South African Government, while expressing their willingness to receive an Indian delegate in association with Sir Benjamin Robertson to represent Indian interests before the Commission appointed to inquire into certain matters connected with the rights and status of Asiatics in South Africa, coupled their offer with impossible conditions; and if the absence of an Indian delegate from the inquiry will be due to this circumstance?
§ Mr. FISHERAs I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Ormsby-Gore) last Wed- 1305W nesday, a distinguished non-official Indian was invited to proceed to South Africa in connection with this enquiry. The South African Government, in agreeing to this arrangement, laid down no conditions which the gentleman in question was not prepared to accept. There were, however, other difficulties not within the control of the South African Government which led him, to our common regret, to refuse the invitation at a very late stage. It was inadvisable to delay indefinitely the setting up of the enquiry, and the circumstances made it impracticable for the Government of India to replace him.
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA. — 30th Dec, 1914. 29th Oct., 1919. (1) Amount and Nature of Currency:— Paper Currency—Denomination of Notes: £ £ 10s … … … … 263,522 2,074,874 £1 … … … … 6,634,085 13,566,325 £5 … … … … 4,499,860 7,995,455 £10 … … … … 1,871,120 3,828,840 £20 … … … … 361,880 642,020 £50 … … … … 1,166,450 1,385,750 £100 … … … … 1,347,500 1,315,500 £1,000 … … … … 3,687,000 23,845,000 TOTAL … … … 19,831,417 54,653,764 30th Dec, 1914. 29th Oct., 1919. (2) Gold Reserve held in Treasury on Notes Account … £7,987,526 £23,787,479 (3) Amount of Bank Deposits:— 30th June, 1914. 30th Sept., 1919. Cheque-paying Banks … … … … £163,854,555 £224,070,810 30th June, 1914. 31st March, 1919. Savings Banks … … … … £83,541,224 £121,079,838 30th June, 1914. 30th June, 1919. (4) Public Debt of Commonwealth … … … … £19,182,333 £325,783,566 30th June, 1914. 30th June, 1918. Public Debts of the several States:— £ £ New South Wales … … … … 116,695,031 152,584,693 Victoria … … … … 66,130,726 79,595,646 Queensland … … … … 54,523,506 62,296,986 South Australia … … … … 33,564,332 40,621,480 Western Australia … … … … 34,420,181 42,304,001 Tasmania … … … … 12,265,012 15,137,355 TOTAL … … … 317,598,788 392,540,161 (5) Amount of Debt covered by National Material Assets:— 30th June, 1914. 30th June, 1918. Railways, Cost of Construction and Equipment … £178,956,000 £220,302,000 Other Material Assets … … … … particulars not available. (6) Level of Prices:— July, 1914. Jan, 1920. Index Numbers of the Retail Prices of Food … … £100 £160