Mr. Bright on Monday delivered a great speech on Indian ,
famines and Indian misgovernment. He was in favour of pre- venting famines, which, as he showed, destroy every ten years five millions of people, besides enormous numbers of cattle, by spending thirty millions on irrigation, and stated that irrigation works had been known to yield 86 per cent. This, in fact, was the gist of the famine portion of his speech, which contained nothing whatever now. Of course, if he can prove that any irrigation work, not made cheap by absorbing old native works, has ever paid in cash any interest of that amount or half that amount, his case is proved, and his speech made unnecessary at the same time. All England will rush into irrigation, and a hundred millions will be forthcoming at once. At present no com- pany could raise a million for any project of Indian irrigation with- out a Government guarantee, the simple reason being that natives do not agree with Mr. Bright, and though greatly delighted with native tanks which were given them, will not, in most districts, pay sixpence for water which, till a drought comes, they do not want. They will sooner risk .the famine, which may never come. The forthcoming Report of the Indian Government will, wo believe, show that irrigation works, except in special localities, have scarcely ever paid, and if made by the Government, wall involve either dangerous expense or a heavy increase to the land-tax. The question, however, is one for evidence, and there can be no objection to a thorough Parliamentary inquiry, which indeed, after two great famines, ought to be made.
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