The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-04 00:00:00

SUPPLY OF COTTON.

On the motion for going into committee of supply,
Mr. CAIRD, in ruing to move for a select committee
to inquire whether any farther measures can be Wow,.
within the legitimate functions of the Indian government, for
increasing the supply of cotton from that country,
said that the aspect of this question was somewhat different
from what it was a month ago, in consequence of the reso-
lution come to by the right hon, gentleman the Secretary of
State for India respecting the tenure of land in India. The
events in America showed that they could no longer depend
exclusively on that country for the supply of cotton. He hoped
the discussion as it proceeded would assure the peopleof this
country that they might expect an early supply of cotton
and sufficient to till up the great gap which had been
occasioned by the civil war in America. The bon. gentle-
man concluded by moving in the terms mentioned above.
(14?
-1; tafr.)

' Mr. BAZLEY said he agreed with hie hon. friend in
many of his observations, though he did not hold the lan.
guise views which he entertained. He agreed with him in
his general conclusions as to the resources of India being
so large that if tithe country did not in a short time receive
large augmentations of cotton from India the Indian de.
partruent of the government would be very much to
blame. (Hear, hear.) Looking at the state of the
manufacturing districts, he submitted that it was
the business of the house to inquire whether
the departments which governed their East Indian and
Colonial posiessioth had performed their duty. Since the
breaking out of the war in America the great cotton
dietricts in the North had been afflicted with an amount of
distreth beyond thythiog ever beard of or known io this
country. Capital had been lying waste ; labour had been
pauperised, and banished from its home. and the prospects
of the manufacturing districts of the country were very
gloomy. Formerly this country consumed 50,000 bags of
cotton per week-42,000 of which came from America.
That was to say 8.5 per cent of the quantity
imported came from America ; 8 per emit.
from Egypt and other foreign countries, and
seven per cent only front India. At that moment they had
no reason to suppose that a larger quantity then formerly
was being grown in India. (Hear, hear.) Eon Ruston had
stated some time ago that he had required all the consuls of
this country to mend information to the Foreign-office of the
quantity of tortes grown in the oountries in which they
resided. That was a laudable service rendered by the noble
lord ; and the troder•Secretary for Foreign Affairs had dis-
played considerable alacrity in following the aame course.
Hut be would like to know whether any other department
of the government had done anything in this respect What
had the Indian and Colonial department.; done to ieduar
persons residing in India and the colonies to cultivate
cotton! (Hear, bear.) The house bad been passing atria to
provide extraordinary employment for the people in the
north of England, but the government bad neglected to do
their dirty, and the coosequenoe was that they had withheld
hole the people that material which would have supplied
them with labour comfort, and abundance, (Hear, hear.)
He hoped this debate would stimulate the government in
this arratermweate kw the cabinet= of cotton in India.