THE INDIAN BUDGET.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1393, 17 September 1885, Page 3

THE INDIAN BUDGET.

Lord Randolph Churchill introduced the Indian Budget on the Ist Sept, in the House of Commons, the deficit for the year being three millions. The Budget as arranged last March was completely upset by the Russian advance in Central Asia, which had caused the Indian Government an increased expenditure of £4,960,000, including a subsidy of £250,000 to the Ameer. Lord Churchill proposed to meet the deficit by postponing the irrigation loan of £3,500,000 to next year. The whole condition of India, political and financial, had changed, and not for the better. For this Earl Dufferin said the present Government were not responsible. The extraordinary expenditure would not be abnormal. There must be a permanent addition to the actual expenditure of not less than £1,500,000. The Government had decided to create a reserve for the Indian army, adding 26,700 on to its strength in the field. The calvary will be reorganised and two new regiments will be raised in Bengal and one in Bombay, giving an increase of 3900 men. A second batallion will be added to the Ghoorka regiments, giving a total increase of 4500. The Indian army will be armed with Martini-Henri rifles. £250,000 will be spent in torpedoes and other defences for Indian harbors. The increase of native troops will necessitate an increase in the number of British troops in India. Lord Churchill strongly attacked the supineness of Lord Ripen, who with the knowledge he had at his command should have foreseen and provided against the advance of Russia instead of spending money on public works, and making useless remissions on taxation and reductions in the army. In next Parliament the Government would propose or support a resolution for a Parliamentary enquiry into the system of Government of India, for, among other reasons, allowing the opinion of educated natives to be heard.