Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...have from time to time suggested the true remedy. As far' 'back as 1862, Lord Canning proposed a permanent settlenient for all India;ia'nd'if Lord Canning had lived five years longer, his proposal would have been acted upon, and famines in their present intense and disastrous forms would have been unknown. 'Lord-Mayo and 'Lord Northbrook placed on record their view against' frequent and harassing surveys and settlements;-and acting on t-heir'suggest'ions, Lord Ripon finally proposed a modified form of permanent settle'inei1t1 which seemed to meet all objections and to provide' a satisfactory solution to the whole question. Lotd Ripon claimed for' the; State the right to enhance re: /enue'in'the future on' the ground of a rise in prices; but he assured the cultivators against recurring settlements and against all enhancements except on this one equitable ground, Gentlemen, this equitble solution was accepted and acted upon in Madras, and I am informed, also in Bombay; but Lord Ripon left India in December 1884, and his wise decision was vetoed by the Secretary of State for India in January 1885. And India has thus once more been plunged into another era of uncertain assessments, frequent enhancements, agricultural distress, ahd disastrous famines. We appeal, gentlemen, to the new Governor of Bombay, who comes in our midst with the best traditions of good government, to fixamoderate limit to the land-tax, which in Northern India does not exceed ten percent. of the produce. We appeal to him in this year of famine and distress to extend to us that relief which is connectled with the names of Canning and of Ripon, and to proclaim that in districts.which have been once surveyed and settled, and in which...