1' 110 VISION OF BORROWING FACILITIES. 253 



an ex-par te statement ; and if they are to inquire, however summarily, 

 into the justice of the bank's demands, they will in reality assume 

 the functions of a civil court. Nor are my objections removed by 

 the proposals contained in the Bombay letter of 26th July 1883, 

 which purport to provide that the assistance of the revenue court 

 will be given to the bank only in the last resort. It is evident that 

 the bank will practically have no other agency for the realisation of 

 its demands. 



11. It is doubtless a serious misfortune that the landholders in 

 India, even when comparatively prosperous, and able to give good 

 security, are usually unable to obtain the temporary accommodation they 

 require, except at a ruinous rate of interest. I fully recognise that it 

 would be the greatest possible benefit to the agricultural community 

 if the place of the present race of needy and extortionate money- 

 lenders were supplied by banks, or other institutions, possessing 

 sufficient capital, and honestly managed. But I need scarcely remind 

 your Excellency that no amount of support or encouragement from 

 Government can render banking operations successful, whether in 

 India or elsewhere, if they are begun on an unsound basis, and are not 

 conducted on true commercial principles. 



12. It appears to me doubtful whether any ingenuity can provide 

 an effectual substitute for the operation of the ordinary laws of 

 trading between the ryots and those, whether soivkars or banks, from 

 whom they obtain advances ; and whether, without the stimulus of 

 risk of loss as a result of neglect and want of proper precaution on 

 its part, any bank could carry on its business with success. There 

 is a strong presumption that Government cannot directly do much 

 more for the relief of the agricultural debtor than take care that 

 in disputes between him and his creditors the law shall provide, 

 and the courts shall administer, speedy, cheap, and equal justice, and 

 that the ryot shall be as little liable as is possible, from his ignorance, 

 his poverty, or his position, to be defrauded or oppressed. 



13. In the four districts in which it is in force, the Deccan 

 Agriculturists' Relief Act has, I am glad to believe, done something 

 in this direction, and it deserves the careful consideration of your 

 Excellency whether its provisions, or any of them, may be made more 



.widely applicable. But, notwithstanding the immense improvement 

 which has of late years been effected in the efficiency and integrity of 

 the administration of civil justice generally, much remains to be done 



