true value of these works should not be measured by their financial success, but account must also be taken of the protection they give in years of drought, while in seasons of average rainfall they give certainty to agriculture, increase the crop outturns, and enable more valuable crops to be grown. These works would, I submit, be a legitimate charge on the Famine Insurance Grant. Under the scheme now in force, when the exigencies of famine relief permit it, half the grant is to be applied to the reduction or avoidance of debt, and the other half, or three quarter of a crore, to protective works. Against the latter the charge to make up the guaranteed interest upon I.M. and B.N. Railways is about 30 lakhs, leaving a balance of 45 lakhs for works, and I submit the Central Provinces have a legitimate claim on this money. In the Budget for 1900-1901 the irrigation grant has been fixed at a full 26 crores, and I may be permitted to hope that the Central Provinces will not be forgotten when the distribution of the grant takes place. In connection with this subject it is gratifying to find that more attention is being paid to irrigation works as a measure of famine relief. These works show better results for the money spent than roads which are taken in hand merely to create employment for the people, but which the country does not need, or which for want of repairs disappear in a few years after their construction.

APPENDIX G

EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF THE HON. THE MAHARAJA

OF DARBHANGA AT THE DEBATE ON THE BUDGET IN

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE VICEROY OF
INDIA ON THE 28TH MARCH 1900

MY LORD, In accordance with the practice which usage has sanctioned in this Council, I'desire to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by the presentation of the Budget Statement to place before your Excellency's Government certain observations in matters of domestic and internal policy which may, I trust, meet with favourable consideration at your hands.

It may be that I shall be compelled to trespass for some little time upon your Excellency's time, but I venture, by way of extenuation, to plead the importance of the subjects I am about to discuss, and I am still further encouraged to proceed by the sympathy and support which your Excellency has invariably accorded to all questions concerning the development of the resources of the country.

It

In the first place, I would ask permission, my Lord, to say a few words with regard to the question of Land Settlement, and I would direct my remarks more particularly to the Central Provinces and Assam. has been a pleasure to me to listen to the interesting speech of my hon. friend, Mr Bose, and if I may say so, he has dealt with his subject in a masterly and

exhaustive fashion. I fear that it cannot be denied that there is a strong feeling in certain quarters to the effect that the present policy stands in serious need of revision. The cry is not for the extension to the other parts of India of a Permanent Settlement similar to that which prevails in Bengal. It is felt, even by those who are the strongest advocates of the Zemindari system, that this is a question which has once for all decided by the Secretary of State for India. No user purpose can be served by a futile attempt to reopen it but, on the other hand, it is submitted that concessions may be reasonably and fairly made by Government without in any way abandoning the position they have seen fit to take up. It is universally admitted, I venture to think, that the only paying fiscal policys that which imposes the most moderate rate consistent with the conservation of the finances of the State. I do not dwell upon this or upon other points which occur to me, for they have all been most ably elaborated by my hon. friend who represents the Central Provinces. But I should like. to recapitulate, as briefly as possible, in the form of heads, the suggestions which I would lay before Government in this connection.

First, the period of Settlement should, except in cases when waste land villages have been newly reclaimed, or when lands have been only recently opened up and brought into communication with centres of trade, be definitely fixed at a period of not less than thirty years.

Secondly, the revenu

ld in no case be enhanced

by more than fifty per cent. over and above the existing demand at any revision of Settlement.

Thirdly, the land revenue should in no case be more than half the total assets of the village.

Fourthly, the Government should not draw from the landholders more than sixty per cent. of the village income, including cesses and rates of all kinds.

All these, my Lord, are points with regard to which strong feeling has been expressed with reference to the Central Provinces. In Cachar, also, I have reason to believe that very strong feeling has been manifested with regard to the resettlement recently sanctioned, and I find that the grounds of opposition are almost identical with those advanced by the inhabitants of the Central Provinces, allowance being of course made for the differences caused by local circumstances and conditions of tenure. Nor is this feeling of what I am afraid I must call dissatisfaction confined in Cachar to the general land-holding and agricultural population. My information is that the Indian Tea Association, representing the most essential section of the community, have also grave objection to take to the excessive nature of the uniform assessment of eleven annas per bigha which has been sanctioned on tea lands, as compared with the new rates on rice lands, which range from four to eleven annas per bigha. On the general question I will do no more than call attention to the criticisms of Mr R. C. Dutt, whose knowledge of the country is on a par with his experience of revenue and settlement work; and it is hardly likely that his observations can be all exaggerated and beside the mark. There must be a

mean, and I submit that mean can be arrived at without injury to the interests of the Government and without hardship to those whose lands are assessed. I would venture to suggest that the best method of settling the difference of opinion and of placing matters upon a satisfactory footing is the appointment of a Commission. It might be presided over by the Chief Commissioners of the provinces concerned, or in their default by the local Directors of Land Records and Agriculture; and it might be composed of two European and two native members. The grievances, such as they are, may be inquired into, and a large amount of important information would probably be collected which the Government would find of value in making resettlement in the future. At all events, I submit that no harm can be done by the appointment of such a Commission, and I am confident that, on the contrary, a considerable amount of good will result.

APPENDIX H

EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF THE HON. SIR HARNAM

SINGH AT THE DEBATE ON THE BUDGET IN THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE VICEROY OF INDIA
ON THE 28TH MARCH 1900

MY LORD, The Finance Member proposes to show future unappropriated balances from the famine grant under the heading of Reduction or Avoidance of Debt. I do not clearly understand in what respect this would