§ Mr. MONTAGUEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is with the consent of the Government of India and of His Majesty's Government that the Government of Madras have issued orders under Rule 23 (1), Government Servants' Conduct Rules, prohibiting Government servants from subscribing to the khadi fund in aid of the All-India 1475W Spinners' Association; whether he is aware that this association is in no sense a political association, in spite of its affiliation with the All-India Congress organisation; and whether he is aware that this association in its constitution declares that it is unaffected and uncontrolled by politics, by political changes, or political bodies, and that while an integral part of the congress organisation has an independent existence and powers?
§ Earl WINTERTONSo far as my Noble Friend is aware, the orders referred to were issued by the Government of Madras on their own initiative. My Noble Friend has no official information regarding the association in question, and would be very reluctant to interfere with the discretion of the local Government in this matter.