FUTURE OF INDIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 96, 24 April 1928, Page 8

FUTURE OF INDIA.

VIEWS OF SIR JOHN BELL

BUSINESS MEN MUST SERVE.

EVOLVING FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

An interesting visitor who arrived in Auckland to-day bv the Marama from Sydney is Sir John Bell, senior partner in the East of the Mackinnon, Mackenzie Company, which manages the P. and O. and British India lines of steamers, of which Lord Inchcape is the head. Sir John and Lady Bell have been on a holiday visit to Australia from Calcutta, and after spending two weeks here they will leave by the Niagara for Vancouver on their way to visit relatives in Scotland.

Sir John is one of the many prominent business men in India who have come to realise in recent years that it is their duty to take part in political life. Formerly president of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce, he later became a member of the Bengal Legislative Council and up to the time of leaving India on extended furlough he had for four years been a member of the Council of State.

"For many years," said Sir John, "it was not the practice for business men and those belonging to the big chambers of commerce to interfere in politics, but since the new reform scheme was introduced it has been necessary for business men to share the responsibilities of political life." Sir John believes that in duo course India will come through her present phase of unrest. He also considers that the reform scheme, and the further work of the Simon Commission will be productive of a form of government which will be acceptable alike to the people of India and to the British population in that country.