28
believe that the zilladars are frequently guilty of refusing to deliver produce
certificates without receiving a gratuity for doing so; it will readily be under-
stood that although this is known to exist, still, it is very difficult to prove.
132. During my tour through the horse breeding districts, I have made
careful enquiries to endeavour to ascertain whether the number of foals said to
be produced is, in any way, as bad as reported by the zilladars, and feel convinced
that it is not the case. Amongst other reliable men, I have consulted Yakoob
Khan, Rais of Khurja, Bulandshahr district, and also one of the darindahs of
this Department; he informed me that at least 70 per cent. of the mares covered
at his stand were in foal.
133. Jehan Khan of Khunda, Rawal Pindi district, one of the best breeders
of that district and also a darindah of this Department, can prove that 50 per
cent. of the mares covered at his stand are in foal.
134. With this evidence before us it is impossible to place any confidence
in the Zilladars' Returns.
135. Another system of checking returns, through the Revenue Establish-
ment of the North-Western Provinces and Punjab, is gradually being put into
working order. Last year the system had not been properly started; during
the year under review, it appears to have worked satisfactorily in the North-
Western Provinces, and as the Patwaris of the Punjab did not appear to under-
stand what was expected of them, explanatory notes to the forms in use were
issued through the Director of Land Records.
136. On the working of this system, the Superintendent, Civil Veterinary
Department, North-Western Provinces and Oudh, reports:—
"Patwaris' Returns have only been received from seven districts. Those received were of a certain value in
affording a check on the Zilladars' Returns. The returns submitted by the Patwaris are, as a rule, very
carelessly made out, and a large number of them are consequently valueless. The Patwaris often obtain the
information from the Zilladar or Darindah, instead of from the horse owners of the villages in his charge.
"A register is kept in this office in which all information received from Patwaris is entered daily; in
this way it is hoped that when more accurate returns are received, we shall have an effectual check on the
working of each district, as compared with the returns received from the zilladars."
137. The Superintendents, North and South Punjab, state that with the
present small staff of clerks entertained in their offices, it is quite impossible
to undertake the checking of these returns in a satisfactory manner. The
Office Establishment of the North-Western Provinces consists of:—
1 Head Clerk
1 2nd Clerk
1 Munshi
2 Clerks
1 Munshi
... ...
...
...
...
Imperial.
Provincial.
Whilst that of the Punjab Offices, each consists of:—
1 Head Clerk
1 2nd Clerk
Munshi
... ...
...
Imperial.
138. It will therefore be understood why the North-Western Provinces is
better able to cope with the work, the magnitude of which may be imagined
when I state that returns are received from 2,947 Putwaris in the Northern
Circle, and from 5,142 in the Southern.
139. I am not, however, prepared to recommend an increase to the Office
Establishment in either of these circles, until the system has been more fully
tried and especially until the check, through the Tehsildars, which is more to
the point, has been in force for a longer period. I expect excellent results
from this, and reporting on this system of checking Zilladars' Returns, the
Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, South Punjab, states as fol-
lows:—
"At the suggestion of the Inspector-General, Civil Veterinary Department, the system of checking the
returns of zilladars by the Tehsildars, was adopted during the year and found to supply a want that has long
been felt. The zilladars of two districts were by this means found to be submitting incorrect returns and
were duly punished."
140. I have shown fully that strenuous efforts are being made to improve
the accuracy of the returns, but I feel that in the present zilladars of the De-
partment we have not the class of man required for the work; they are mainly