The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

CARRIAGE.

tteehneagers
in a
BlaotaerdmonfrdTerraodues
Mr. BLAKE asked
attack by a maniac on two fellow- railway
whether his attentionhtila:dFbereenidceanlltedof
London, whereby they received wounds
intended
carriage on the North-Western line,PbaestsdwaeeanerLioinvaelrypoeonldaannd.
endan-
gering their lives ; and whether the Government
provide means to enable passengers to obtain as
taking any and what steps to compel railway come
japtaannicees
into
the event of outrage or accident ?
a rlal rt,
to the
eG
companies,lßS 0N sai de a—l
nV
ge
theirha e
attentionfrequ ent
toy stehnet circtu-e
neces-
sity of having communication between the guards and h
drivers, but I do not know that we have ever suggested
that there should be communication between the passengers
and the guards, Whether that is right or not it is not for
me to say, but it is a subject well worthy of consideration.
JAPAN.
Mr. LIDDELL asked the Secretary of State for India
whether any application had been
made to the Governor-
General of India for troops to be employed in Japan, and
whether the Governer-General had the power of ordering
troops for foreign service without the previous sanction of
, Parliament?
Sir C. WOOD—I am not aware that any application has
been made to the Governor-General of India for troops for
, Japan.
, THE SEAT OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair, for the
purpose of going into committee on the East India revenue
accounts,

Mr. G. DUFF called attention to the expediency of
transferring the seat of the Indian Government to
some
point more eligible than Calcutta.
Sir C. WOOD said he thought it would be unwise to re-
move the seat of Government from Calcutta until a more
desirable place was fixed upon, and that Mr. Duff had not
thrown any additional light on this subject.
After a conversation on the subject of the employment of
Indian troops out of India, the house went into committee.

THE INDIAN BUDGET.

Sir C. WOOD rose, and laid un the table the following
resolutions :

1. That the total net revenues of the territories and de-
partment under the immediate control of the Government
of India for the year ending April 30, 1862, amounted to
£3,098,196 sterling, and the charges thereof for the same
period, other than military charges, amounted to £2,857,876
sterling.
for the year ended April 30, 1862, amounted to £lrilo,do,
other
than military charges, amounted to £2,140,
2. That the total net revenues of the Bengal Presidency,
sterling, and the charges thereof, for the samssespseterlin
sterling.
thleB6N2 North-Western
dtern
Provinces, for the year ended April 30, to
3. That the total net revenues ofther
of:
for the same
£6,026,080 sterling, and the charges e
amounted to £1,845,487
therht
4. That t
period,ster li no.
ehantotmaliinitae ryt
recvhearnugeess'of the Punjaub, for the
thereof, for
to £2,673,785 sterling,
the same period, other than
yamneiadlritatherynedecedhhaaArrggperies
charges, 3
~
amounted to £1,257,805 sterling.
5. That the net revenues of the territories and depart-
ments under the immediate control of the Government of
India of the Bengal Presidency, of the North-Western Pro .
vinces, and of the Punjaub together, for the year ended
April 30, 1862, amounted to £22,864,574 sterling, and the
charges thereupon, including the military charges, amounted
to £15,469,629 sterling, leaving a surplus available for the
general charges of India, of £7,394,945 sterling.
6. That the total net revenues of the Madras Presidency
(Fort St. George), for the year ended April 30, 1862,
amounted t0'£5,925,140 sterling, and the net charges thereof,
for the same period, amounted to £5,605,809 sterling, leaving
a surplus available in the above Presidency, for the general
charges of India, of £19,331 sterling.
7. That the total net revenues of the Bombay Presidency,
for the year ending April the 30th, 1862, amounted to
£6,931,348 sterling, and the net charges thereof, for the
same period, amounted to £4,627,011 sterling leaving a sur-
plus available in the above presidency, for the general
charges of India, of £2,304,337 sterling.
8. That the total net revenues of the several Presidencies,
for the year ending April 30, 1862, amounted to £35,721,062
sterling, and the charges thereof amounted to £26,002,449
ster.ing, leaving a surplus revenue of £9,718,613 sterling.
9. That the interest on the registered debt of India, paid
for the year ending April 30, 1862, amounted to £3,134,897
sterling, and the charges defrayed in England on account of
the Inaian territory, in the same period, including guaran-
teed interest on the capital of railway and other companies,
after deducting ret traffic receipts of railways, amounted to
£6,634,344 sterling, leaving a deficiency of Indian income
for the year ended as aforesaid, to detray the above interest
and charges, of £50,628 sterling.

He was happy to say that on the present occasion he had a
satisfactory statement to make, namely, to state the progress
of the Indian revenue and expenditure for the last two years.
The accounts with which they had to deal were those of
1861-1862, and the estimates for 1862-1863. With regard to
the years 1861-1862, he was happy to say the accounts
showed a steady increase of Indian revenue, and that in-
stead of there being a deficiency of £600,000, the actual de-
ficiency was only £56,000. (Hear.) The actual revenue was
£13,829,000, and the actual expenditure was £42,911,000,
snowing an increase of £918,000. The estimated expenditure
was £13,800,000 ; the actual expenditure was .C 13,906,000,
showing an increase of £374,000. There had been consider-
able increase in the land revenue, and a decrease in the salt
revenue, for English salt had been substituted for the salt
manufactured by natives. There was a considerable increase
in the army expenditure, owing to the payment of some
arrears; and a decrease in the duty on opium. But he
thought he might congratulate the house that at so early a
period after the Indian mutiny the Indian finances were in
so favourable a condition. He had sometimes been accused of

taking too sanguine and sometimes 100 desponding a view of
ludiAn finance. His object, however, was to take a fair view,
and it was satisfactory to finl that his anticipations had been
carried out. He now came to the regular estimates for 1862-
3 of the probable expenditure. His budget estimate of 1862
showed a probable surplus of £900,000 and a probable defi-
cit of £BOO,OOO. In 1861-2 the estimated expenditure of re-
venue would be beneath the mark, and it appeared that the
revenue was inct easing more rapidly than it was expected it
would be in April last ; and although the expenditure was
increasing, it had not increased to the same extent. About
December last a despatch was received that the revenue was
£920,000 higher than it was estimated by the council in
April, and that the expenditure might be about £600,000,
reducing the anticipated deficiency by £320,000. But when
he came to the regular estimate, he was glad to say that
while the increase of revenue was greater, the increase of
expenditure less. The revenue in 1861-2 wa5£43,829,000,
while that of 1862-3 was £45,105,000, showing an increase
of £2,134,000. Of that sum an increase of no less than
£1,552,000 was received from opium, making £7,886 000.
The increase on salt was £284,000, and on the other articles
of necessary consumption also an increase, which made the
entire about two millions, The expenditure was higher by
about £440,000 than had been calculated, but the reduction
as regarded England was £395,000. There was a charge for
the construction of the India House, for guaramtees to rail-
ways, and other matters, but the result was that the increase
would be about £140,000. The case would then stand thus:
Taking England and India together, and deducting the re-
venue from the expenditure, a clear surplus would remain
of £1,287,000. (Hear, hear.) He believed that that was
rather below than above the mark. The committee would
also be glad to hear that in India they were in the habit of
under-stating the revenue, and .Mr. Laing, calculating for
1861-62, did so to an amount of over £200,000; but compar-
ing the revenue of 1862-63, which was £45,105,000, with that
of 1861-62 as £43,289,000 there was a net increase in the re-
venue of £2,134,000. Of that sum the increase in opium was
£1,500,000, and in salt of £770,000. The expenditure for
1861-62 was £37,245,000, in 1862-63, £37,228,000, being only
a reduction of £17,000, but that was owing in a great degree
to the necessity of keeping up the army in a state of effi-

ciency, and the construction of public works of great utility.
He might add that, taking England and India together, the
increase was about £46,000. The committee would see it
was satisfactory to find that, while a decrease in the con-
sumption of a great many articles had taken place, the re-
venue still kept increasing. (Hear, hear.) He would come
now to what the probable revenue and expenditure would
be in 186364. The revenue was estimated at £45,376,000,
the expenditure £44,490,000, so that there would be a pro-
bable surplus of £816,000. In that prospective state of
revenue the Government of India felt themselves justified
in reducing taxation to a certain extent, and to give a pledge
that the income tax, which caused so much dissatisfaction,
should be taken off altogether. (Hear, hear.) In the mean-
time it was intended to take off a penny in the pound, and

take off 10 per cent duty on raw materials and other articles.
These reductions on Customs duties, and the income tax
would amount to £335,000, leaving a surplus of £llB,OOO.
In this estimate of the revenue, as in 1862-63, opium figures
—for it was calculated to produce eight millions; and the
principal cause of the increased expenditure was the con-
struction of public works, which increased from £400,000 to
£500,000 ; the establishment of a system of police to pre-
serve order and the tranquillity of the country, and other
improvements found to be absolutely necessary. (Hear.)
So far as the revenue went then, the committee woull per-

ceive that it evinced a very general improvement in the
material condition of the country, and he was bound to say
that the reduction of the expenditure was mainly due to the
_ _

exertions made by the Indian Government. Within the
last three or four years that reduction had gone on steadily.
In 1859-60 the revenue was £50,470,000, but in 1860-61 h
was reduced by £3,475,000 ; in 1862-63, £3,044,000, and
the reductions had gone on increasing up to last April ;

but there would be an increase in the next year of £625,000,
having a surplus of £418,000. The main reduction aro,e
from a diminution of the military force, the cost of which,
in 1858-9, was 251 millions, while in the present year it
would be only 141 millions. It was still higher than before
the mutiny occurred, but that was owing to the substitution
of European troops, and the diminution of the native force.
They had also abolished the Indian navy after a careful con -
sideration, but he was bound to say that during its existence
it rendered most distinguished service, and performed all the
duties assigned to it in an admirable manner. So that taking
altogether the highest charge, which was in 1859-60,
£50,475,000, and the lowest in 1862-3, as £42,825,000, they
had effected a reduction of £6,665,000. He did not suppose
they could effect much reduction in the civil service in con-
sequence of the improvements which took place in the judi-
cial establishments, and the large number of civil servants
who proceeded to India every year. There would be some
reduction in the guarantees of interest to rail ways, by ex-
changes, and in other ways; but the item for public works
would largely increase. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the
rate of mortality iu India, great misapprehensions existed
on the subject. The rate of mortality in Bengal in 1861
was 34 in a thousand, nearly half of which were cholera
cases. In Madras it was only 12, and in Bombay 20, while
in many of their colonies it was much higher. In Ceylon
it was 38, in the Bermudas 48, and in the Mauritius 24,
which, considering these temperate climates, ranged much
higher. It was no doubt the duty of the Government to
improve the sanatory condition of the army, not only as
a measure of humanity, but on the score of economy.
(Hear.) That, he assured the committee, would be attended
to. Then as to reproductive works, Sir Charles Tre-
velyan had drawn up a very able minute on the subject.
The total mileage of railways now opened was 2,500. 647
miles were opened last year and 759 miles in 1871; and he
was happy to say that the Great East Indian Railway was
now all but complete. The estimated expenditure on all the
great lines of railways was £60,000,000. Of that sum
£56,000,000 had been sanctioned, £48,000,000 raised and
£46,000,000 expended. The railway traffic had increased
from £390,000 in 1861-62 to the estimated receipts of
£868,000 in 1863-64. With regard to the statement that the
demand for the purchase of waste lands had entirely ceased
since his administration of the affairs of India, he gave it
Ihe most unqualified denial. The charge originated in the
fact of the Government not being able to supply maps of
the lands to intending purchasers ; but they had offered no
obstacle whatever to the purchase of waste lands. In the
North-Western province, for example, the governor re-
ported that almost all the available land had been purchased.
In the next place, he was happy to be able to state that the
cultivation of cinchona bark and quinine was on an exten-
sive scale and was likely to prove very successful, especially
in the Madras presidency. Upon a former occasion he had
explained the measures taken by the Government to stimun

late the production of cotton and to facilitate its transport to '
the seaboard. Thoie-exertions had been continued, but it
was found that the gins sent out from Manchester did not
answer. The right hon gentleman next showed that the
consumption of British salt had largely increased in
the natives allowing their prejudices to be overcome end
admitting that clean salt was much better than dirty salt.
Now, what had been done with reference to the debt of
India That debt was reduced during the last year by about
£1,000,000, but beyond that he had issued a notice in refer-
ence to debentures which became payable, £5,000,000 in
October, and £3,000,000, stating that it was considered de-
sirable to create India ktock at a lower rate of interest than
the present, and offer to the holders of those debentures to
convert them into a new stock at 4 per cent over a period 01
25 years. He hoped the debt would be wiped off to a consi-
derable extent by the conversion of debentures into stock, but
if his offer were not accepted he would still be in a position
from the surplus revenue to pay off a considerable amount,
for the policy ot maintaining large cash balances in India had
been entirely denounced. He hoped that his statement on the
position and finances of India had proved satisfactory to the
committee, and he attributed the general employment and
improved condition of the people of India, the peace, con-
tentment, and loyalty which pervaded from one end of the
country to the other, to those measures which had passed
the Legislature, and received the sanction and approval of
the Home Government. The right hon. gentleman con-
cluded by formally submitting his resolutions.
Colonel SYKES descanted upon the high rate of mor-
tality among the European troops in India, and advocated
the reduction of the force, and the employment of a larger
number of native troops. _ . _

Mr. GREGSON complimented the Chief Secretary on
the satisfactory statement he had made, but complained of
the excessive daty levied on salt, which was equal to 1,700
per cent. on the invoice price of the article.
Mr. VANSITTART also observed that the statement
was one for congratulation to the Indian Government, who
had, mainly owing to Mr. Laing's policy, got the country
out of a condition of chronic insolvency to one of compara-
tive prosperity. He hoped they would not again reduce
our military force to such an extent as to endanger the
safety of our countrymen who were scattered over so vast
a territory.
Mr. BAZLEY trusted that the measures which were
being adopted to stimulate the growth of cotton in India
would prove successful.
Mr. Kianaird, Mr. Buxton, and Mr. Ayrton having also
addressed the committee,
Sir C. WOOD briefly replied, and the resolutions were
agreed to.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Mr. C. FORTESCUE explained the reasons for intro •
ducing the measure and the objects contemplated by it,
adding details of the condition of the colony, and its pro-
gress, and the character of the population. Ho looked for-
ward, he said, to the time NI hen British Columbia would
be most valuable to this country.
Mr. WYLD said that the success of the colonies of British
Columbia and Vancouver's Island had not been as great as
it would have been under better management and a better
constitution. The Hudson's Bay Company had exercised
too much influence over the Colonial-office; and, as an in-
stance of it, of the 15 members given by the present consti-
tution to Vancouver's Island 12 were the nominees of the
company. (Hear.) In the two colonies of British Columbia
and Vancouver's Island the population, instead of increas-
ing, had decreased. The total population was 12;000, and
it was proved that although large numbers went temporarily
to search for gold, they did not become settlers and colonists.
The number of defaulters among public officials was very
great, and the amount of their defalcations was enormous.
There was a strong feeling in favour of the Sovereign of
these realms; but the people saw a better Government
under the United States in neighbouring territory, end far
less corruption. (Hear, hear.) He gave credit to the Duae
of Newcastle for the attempt to form a road to the Pacific,
with telegraphic communication, but he should like to see
that project carried out independently, and not through the
intervention of the Hudson's Bay Company, by whom the
interests of the colony had always been sacrificed. The
telegraph line would pass through territory occupied by
hostile tribes, and he was afraid that the Colonial-office, by
granting land to the new company who were to stand in
the place of the Hudson's Bay Company, would involve this
country in a war as expensive as ths' Caffre War.
Mr. AYTO UN objected to the bill en the grounds that
it conferred enormous powers upon the Crown, and that it
formed part of a great scheme of the Colonial Secretary for
an intercolonial railway, which was a wild project that
would affect the interests of the taxpayers of this country.
The house then went into committee upon the bill, the
clauses of which were agreed to, except the fourth, which
was negatived.
The Partnership Law Amendment Bill was read a third
time and passed.
Colonel DICKSON called attention to Mr. Bateman's re-
port on the river Shannon, and moved for copy of reports
made by the Inst,ector of Fisheries and by Mr. Forsythe,
C.E., to the Commissioners of Public Works.
Mr. PEEL did not object, and the motion was agreed to.
Colonel DUNNE called attention to the report of the
Committee on Holyhead Harbour, and moved that the re-
commendations made in the report be adopted.
Mr. M. GIBSON said that, as yet, the Government had
had no opportunity of considering the evidence taken by
the committee, and of judging whether it bore out their re-
commendations. He admitted the present landing accom-
modation was insufficient, but he could not allow that the
Government were bound to do anything more than provide
forthe
somelandi eongonfvtehrse atiomails.n,
Attar the motion was negatived with-
out a division.
The house adjourned at one o'clock.