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The famine campaign in southern India 1876-1878
The famine campaign in southern India 1876-1878 Author:William Digby Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH. Advantage was taken by Sir Richard Temple of his visit to Madras, to impress upon the local Government the a... more »dvisability of adopting the reduced rate of relief, which he had recommended almost immediately after entering the Presidency, and which was being carried out in Bombay. The proposal was urged by him on financial grounds, but was strongly objected to by the Madras Government, for other, and, what were considered higher, reasons. However, Sir Richard's strong will prevailed, and on February 3 the Secretary of State was informed that the Madras Government had resolved to adopt experimentally, in deference to the suggestions of the Delegate, the same scale of payment of wages for relief labourers as is proposed to be enforced in the Bombay Presidency. Sir Richard's minutes and memoranda, Lord Salisbury was further informed, were still under consideration, and action upon them was further deferred. At the same time the condition of affairs in North Arcot—the district alleged a few days before by the Delegate to be in no need of relief works—was described as very bad, and camps were ordered to be formed at Chittoor, Vellore, and Ranipett, a special officer being detailed to assist the collector. It was feared that distress in this part of the country was likely to be very severe. Private charity in the town of Madras was checked, and grantsin aid of donations which had been given were stopped. Indiscriminate and badly controlled charity was working much mischief. The authorities thenceforward undertook to meet all wants. Whilst these orders were being carried out, Sir Richard Temple had left Madras, and again proceeded on tour. Having seen in the Madras town relief camps a large number of persons from North Arcot district wh...« less