Legislative Assembly Debates Wednesday 5th March 1924 Official Report

In the leiy of such duties the Government keep in their mind primarily two considerations the first and forethost amongst them is the protection of national industries and the increase of national wealth the second pne being the increase of revenue to the State. [...] But I submit with due deference to the opinion of the authorities that the Akali unrest due to the tactless handling the situation and the general discontent due to heavy taxation and the withholding of further reforms and to go further the practical denying to the people of India their inherent right of self-determination are a much greater imminent danger than the far-off and more or les [...] But before I conclude I must draw the attention of the House to the point raised by the Honourable the Finance Member regarding the provicial contributions and the salt tax dealt with in paragraphs 62 to 71 of his.speech and hope that Honourable Members will not neglect the needs and requirements of the general tax-payers in their excesof provincial patriotism. [...] The House is aware that the Government of India recogniing the injustice that has been done to Bengal accepted the special recommendation of the Joint Parliamentary Committee which reads: The Committee desire to add their recognition of the peculiar financial difficulties of the Presidency of Bengal which they accordingly commend to the special considertion of the Government of India." [...] My submission is that the finding of the Committee and the subsequent action of the Government thereon places Bengal first of all' the provinces to be accorded a permanent remission of the contributions.