INDIAN AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 35, 9 February 1917, Page 6

INDIAN AFFAIRS.

VICEROY'S POLICY SPEECH. PLACE IN EMPIRE'S COUNSELS. LOYALTY OF. HER PEOPLE. THE EMIGRATION PROBLEM. (Reuters Telegrams.) (Received 9.30 a.m.) l£i_— . ■ * DELHI, February 8. . The Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford, presided at the first meeting of the Imperial Legislative Council, which has opened its I winter session. In a lengthy and impressive speech he urged the members to avoid controversial questions and concentrate their energies on assisting the —npire to achieve victory. Regarding the abolition of the emigration of indentured labour, the Viceroy emphatically declared that neither the Government of India nor the Secretary of State would depart from Lord Hardinge's pledges, but the abolition required much inquiry and investigation in order to guard against a bad system being succeeded by a worse. A special mission had been sent to Ceylon antfthe Malay States, and its report was expected at the end of February. The intended conference of,representatives of Indian and Colonial interests, which, was to meet in London in May, would formulate a scheme acceptable "to both parties. The Colonial Office had whole-heartedly accepted the decision. In its present form emigration must cease. The colonies concerned were showing the utmost readiness to co-operate in order to remove objectionable features, and the Government of India would presently undertake whatever legislation . was necessary in a wholly sympathetic spirit.. THE PUBLIC SERVICE. The Government, said Lord Chelmsford, intended to deal expeditiously with the Public Service Commission's J report; including the question of the'l increased employment of Indians in the i higher branches of service. Referring to the recent ordinance requiring the registration.of European males between I the ages of 18 and 50, he said that the j time had arrived in India for the release | for service in the field of British units which would otherwise be employed in garrison duty. It was proposed to introduce a bill whereby all Europeans and British subjects from; 18 to 40 years would be liable for general military service in India. Those from 41 to 60 would be compulsorily enrolled for,local military service, and youths of 16 to 18 for military training. It was also proposed to enrol Indians in units of their own during the next six months for general military service in India for the duration of the war. NEIGHBOUR STATES SOUND. Lord Chelmsford paid a,tribute to the frontier officers, 'who had brought to naught schemes against India's security. The political importance of the Mesopotamian campaign, he added,, would be known.in the future. Persia remained benevolently neutral, and Siam had crushed the endeavours of our enemies. The Amir of Afghanistan had steadfastly upheld his neutrality. Referring to the enormous responsibility resting on the three representatives chosen to attend the Dominions' Conference, he "said that the latter marked a new chapter in the history of India. He was confident that they would establish India's claim to retain at the Council of Empire the place won by the loyalty of her people and the gallantry of her soldiers.