INDIAN FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 21 March 1924, Page 8

INDIAN FINANCE

ESTIMATES REJECTED BY SWARAJISTS AND NATIONALISTS Delhi, March 19. The Legislature began consideration of the Estimates for the various Departments. The first demand ot 33| lakhs for the Land and Revenue Department was totally rejected, by oa votes to 63, the Swarajists and Nationalists combining against the Government, and said that they had decided to oppose the whole Budget in view of the refusal of a round table conference and the failure to release political prisoners and withdraw i-c--pressive laws. The demand of 12 lakhs for excise, moved by the Minister was passed by 65 votes'to 64, owing to a Nationalist member deciding to support the demands made by Ministers and oppose those made by officials. Ihe demand for 91 lakhs for the Stamp Department was consequently rejected by 64 to 63 ' The Assembly adjourned—Reuter. FINANCE BILL BLOCKED VICEROY RECOMMENDS REDUCED SALT DUTY Delhi, March 19. Tho A’iceroy sent back the Finance Bill to the Legislative Assembly with a recommendation >to pass it with a reduced salt duty. Mott Eal, the leader of the Nationalist Party, opposed the message, whereupon the Assembly refused the inti oduction of the Bill without a division. The Viceroy’s action was intended to meet* all reasonable opposition to the Finance Bill on its merits by abandoning the enhanced salt duty which caused a political controversy last year, but the Assembly refused the introduction solely on the ground that its demands for further Constitutional reforms had not yet been conceded.— Reuter.