DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68026#0126
120
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE :
Mr. L. M.
Jacob.
A Apr., 1908.
Mr. J. 8,
Meston.
6 Apr., 1908.
buildings being well advanced, the designs could not be
modified. The Local Government also expressed regret
that this fact was not mentioned in its previous letter.
In the circumstances explained above, the Government
of India on the 2nd November, 1907, sanctioned the
whole expenditure involved, and drew the attention of
the Local Government to its irregular action.
On the 8th July, 1907, the Government of Eastern
Bengal and Assam requested sanction to the construc-
tion of a residence for the Executive Engineer, Dacca
Division. It was considered desirable by the Govern-
ment of India to hold over this case till orders were
passed on the quarters for the staff of the Arts College
and School of Engineering, Dacca, as the decision on
the latter case might affect the case under considera-
tion. On the 9th September, 1907, we asked the Local
Government whether it desired to have a design pre-
pared by the Consulting Architect to the Government
of India as already suggested by the Government of
India in the case of the quarters for the staff of the
Arts College, etc., and we added that it was desirable
that the cost of the proposed residence should not
exceed the 8 per cent, limit permissible under rules.
On the 21st September, 1907, the Local Government
replied saying that if the Consulting Architect could
supply a design fulfilling the conditions set forth in its
letter, the Lieutenant-Governor would be glad to
receive it. As, however, the Consulting Architect to
the Government of India was at the time hard pressed
with work, and as the Government of India had to
sanction the other Dacca quarters, the work being far
advanced, it was decided to leave the work in question
to the Local Government. The sanction of the
Government of India was accordingly communicated
to the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam on
the 22nd October, 1907, to the proposed construction
of a residence for the Executive Engineer at Dacca,
but certain suggestions were made with the object
of assisting the Local Government to keep down
the cost of residential buildings in this and similar
cases.
On the 29th July, 1907, the Local Government sub-
mitted for sanction a proposal for the construction of
a residence for the Joint Magistrate at Dacca. This
case was held over for the same reason as in the case
of the Executive Engineer’s quarters, and on the 9th
September we asked the; Government of Eastern Ben-
gal and Assam as in the above case, if it desired to
have the design prepared by the Consulting Architect
to the Government of India. On the 24th September,
1907, the Local Government replied in the same terms
as in the case of the Executive Engineer’s quarters.
For the reason stated above, in the case of the Execu-
tive Engineer’s quarters, it was not considered necessary
to entrust the work to the Consulting Architect, and
on the 22nd October, 1907, the Government of India
communicated sanction to the proposed expenditure on
the residence for the Joint Magistrate at Dacca.
On the 16th November, 1907, the Government of
Eastern Bengal and Assam requested sanction to the
construction of quarters for the Superintendent of
Police at Dacca. On the 7th January, 1908, the
Government of India sanctioned the proposal of the
Local Government, and communicated certain remarks
with a view to improving the building.
As already pointed out, provision was made for the
Accountant-General’s office in the design of the pro-
posed new Secretariat building at Dacca. On the 29th
August, 1906, the Local Government asked for the
administrative approval of the Government of India
to the accommodation for Accountant-General’s office
being included in the proposed Secretariat building,
the work being Imperial. On the 17th October, 1906,
the necessary approval was accorded. On the 20th
September, 1906, the Local Government asked for
sanction to the construction of a residence for the
Accountant-General at Dacca. The sanction of the
Government of India to the proposal was communi-
cated to the Local Government on the 23rd November,
1906.
(The witness withdrew.)
Adjourned.
SIXTY-FIFTH DAY.
Simla, Monday, the Oth April, 1908.
PRESENT :
C. E. H. Hobiiouse, Esq., M.P., Under Secretary of State for India, Chairman.
Sir Frederic Lely, K.C.I.E., C.S.I i W. S. Meyer, Esq., C.I.E., I.C.S.
Sir Steynimg Edgerley, K.C.V.O., C.I.E., I.C.S. W. L. Hichens, Esq.
R. C. Dutt, Esq., C.I.E. I
Mr. J. S. Meston was called and examined.
44807. (Chairman.) You are the Secretary to the
Government of India in the Finance Department ?—
Yes. I file a f memorandum showing the organization
of the department.
44808. You are the Head of the office, but the whole
of the office is under the control of the Finance
Member ?—Yes.
44809. You say that the Finance Department deals
with all questions of finance, but does it draw to itself
from other departments questions which concern not
only finance, but administrative matters ?—Only in so
far as the financial side of the question is concerned.
A very large number of administrative cases come
before the Financial Department, but we attempt to
restrict our examination of them entirely to the
pecuniary side.
44810. Is that a possible distinction to draw ?—It is
not always possible. The administrative element must
necessarily enter into one’s considerations at times,
but, personally, I have always looked upon it as my
duty to accept as far as possible the considered views
j- Vide Appendix Id.
of the Administrative Department on purely admini-
strative questions, and [simply to enquire whether oi-
not we can find the money for the schemes proposed.
44811. Do you go into the question of whether the-
financial proposals of the other Administrative Depart-
ments are sound or not ?—Yes.
44812. Then you do something more than consider
whether you have the ways and means to meet the
expenditure which they propose ?—Certainly.
44813*. Has the demand for returns and informa-
tions from Local Governments increased of recent
years? If so, is this due to the requirements of the-
Secretary of State or to those of the Government of
India? Will you kindly give the Commission a list of the
periodical returns which your department (a) calls for
from Provincial Governments, or (b) furnishes to the
Secretary of State, with a column showing which of
these (if any) are in your judgment unnecessary ?—
The demand for information and returns from the
Local Governments by the Finance Department is
comparatively small. My impression (though I speak
with only 1| years’ experience) is that it has not.
MINUTES OF EVIDENCE :
Mr. L. M.
Jacob.
A Apr., 1908.
Mr. J. 8,
Meston.
6 Apr., 1908.
buildings being well advanced, the designs could not be
modified. The Local Government also expressed regret
that this fact was not mentioned in its previous letter.
In the circumstances explained above, the Government
of India on the 2nd November, 1907, sanctioned the
whole expenditure involved, and drew the attention of
the Local Government to its irregular action.
On the 8th July, 1907, the Government of Eastern
Bengal and Assam requested sanction to the construc-
tion of a residence for the Executive Engineer, Dacca
Division. It was considered desirable by the Govern-
ment of India to hold over this case till orders were
passed on the quarters for the staff of the Arts College
and School of Engineering, Dacca, as the decision on
the latter case might affect the case under considera-
tion. On the 9th September, 1907, we asked the Local
Government whether it desired to have a design pre-
pared by the Consulting Architect to the Government
of India as already suggested by the Government of
India in the case of the quarters for the staff of the
Arts College, etc., and we added that it was desirable
that the cost of the proposed residence should not
exceed the 8 per cent, limit permissible under rules.
On the 21st September, 1907, the Local Government
replied saying that if the Consulting Architect could
supply a design fulfilling the conditions set forth in its
letter, the Lieutenant-Governor would be glad to
receive it. As, however, the Consulting Architect to
the Government of India was at the time hard pressed
with work, and as the Government of India had to
sanction the other Dacca quarters, the work being far
advanced, it was decided to leave the work in question
to the Local Government. The sanction of the
Government of India was accordingly communicated
to the Government of Eastern Bengal and Assam on
the 22nd October, 1907, to the proposed construction
of a residence for the Executive Engineer at Dacca,
but certain suggestions were made with the object
of assisting the Local Government to keep down
the cost of residential buildings in this and similar
cases.
On the 29th July, 1907, the Local Government sub-
mitted for sanction a proposal for the construction of
a residence for the Joint Magistrate at Dacca. This
case was held over for the same reason as in the case
of the Executive Engineer’s quarters, and on the 9th
September we asked the; Government of Eastern Ben-
gal and Assam as in the above case, if it desired to
have the design prepared by the Consulting Architect
to the Government of India. On the 24th September,
1907, the Local Government replied in the same terms
as in the case of the Executive Engineer’s quarters.
For the reason stated above, in the case of the Execu-
tive Engineer’s quarters, it was not considered necessary
to entrust the work to the Consulting Architect, and
on the 22nd October, 1907, the Government of India
communicated sanction to the proposed expenditure on
the residence for the Joint Magistrate at Dacca.
On the 16th November, 1907, the Government of
Eastern Bengal and Assam requested sanction to the
construction of quarters for the Superintendent of
Police at Dacca. On the 7th January, 1908, the
Government of India sanctioned the proposal of the
Local Government, and communicated certain remarks
with a view to improving the building.
As already pointed out, provision was made for the
Accountant-General’s office in the design of the pro-
posed new Secretariat building at Dacca. On the 29th
August, 1906, the Local Government asked for the
administrative approval of the Government of India
to the accommodation for Accountant-General’s office
being included in the proposed Secretariat building,
the work being Imperial. On the 17th October, 1906,
the necessary approval was accorded. On the 20th
September, 1906, the Local Government asked for
sanction to the construction of a residence for the
Accountant-General at Dacca. The sanction of the
Government of India to the proposal was communi-
cated to the Local Government on the 23rd November,
1906.
(The witness withdrew.)
Adjourned.
SIXTY-FIFTH DAY.
Simla, Monday, the Oth April, 1908.
PRESENT :
C. E. H. Hobiiouse, Esq., M.P., Under Secretary of State for India, Chairman.
Sir Frederic Lely, K.C.I.E., C.S.I i W. S. Meyer, Esq., C.I.E., I.C.S.
Sir Steynimg Edgerley, K.C.V.O., C.I.E., I.C.S. W. L. Hichens, Esq.
R. C. Dutt, Esq., C.I.E. I
Mr. J. S. Meston was called and examined.
44807. (Chairman.) You are the Secretary to the
Government of India in the Finance Department ?—
Yes. I file a f memorandum showing the organization
of the department.
44808. You are the Head of the office, but the whole
of the office is under the control of the Finance
Member ?—Yes.
44809. You say that the Finance Department deals
with all questions of finance, but does it draw to itself
from other departments questions which concern not
only finance, but administrative matters ?—Only in so
far as the financial side of the question is concerned.
A very large number of administrative cases come
before the Financial Department, but we attempt to
restrict our examination of them entirely to the
pecuniary side.
44810. Is that a possible distinction to draw ?—It is
not always possible. The administrative element must
necessarily enter into one’s considerations at times,
but, personally, I have always looked upon it as my
duty to accept as far as possible the considered views
j- Vide Appendix Id.
of the Administrative Department on purely admini-
strative questions, and [simply to enquire whether oi-
not we can find the money for the schemes proposed.
44811. Do you go into the question of whether the-
financial proposals of the other Administrative Depart-
ments are sound or not ?—Yes.
44812. Then you do something more than consider
whether you have the ways and means to meet the
expenditure which they propose ?—Certainly.
44813*. Has the demand for returns and informa-
tions from Local Governments increased of recent
years? If so, is this due to the requirements of the-
Secretary of State or to those of the Government of
India? Will you kindly give the Commission a list of the
periodical returns which your department (a) calls for
from Provincial Governments, or (b) furnishes to the
Secretary of State, with a column showing which of
these (if any) are in your judgment unnecessary ?—
The demand for information and returns from the
Local Governments by the Finance Department is
comparatively small. My impression (though I speak
with only 1| years’ experience) is that it has not.