INDIA'S FAITH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1931, Page 6

INDIA'S FAITH.

APPEAL TO BRITAIN.

Speaker Voicing Moderate

Opinion.

FEDERAL EXECUTIVE POWERS.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.) : . . EUGBY, January .2. , Further progress with the work of the India Round Table Conference was made to-day when the Federal Structure Sub-Committee .discussed the question of the constitution, character, powers and responsibility of the federal executive. • The whole of the afternoon session was occupied with a speech by one of the leading representatives of moderate opinion in British India. Addressing himself to the constitution as .it at present exists, he objected to the possession by the Viceroy of certain powers respecting which he was really subject to the Secretary of State for India, and which the Viceroy had to exercise sometimes in a way contrary to his own views and. those of the Executive Council. , . He objected to powers of certification, which prevented the Legislature from rising to its full height, and he contrasted the position in this respect with that prevailing in the self-governing Dominions at present. He declared that neither the Governor-General nor the Executive Council was answerable to the Legislature. Then - responsibility was to the Crown and Parliament through the Secretary of State. If the Legislature knew it was responsible and that its vote might throw out the Government it would act with more moderation in dealing with problems of government and administration. Choice of Ministry. The speaker said he would like the Governor-General to continue to be appointed by the. Crown as at present and would like to make it impossible for the Commander-in-Chief to be "a member of the Executive. He would not hesitate to replace the present Executive! Council by a Ministry chosen from members or groups of members of the Legislature, representing a majority and working under the leadership of the Prime Ministery. Obviously a period of transition would be necessary, during which certain subjects should be reserved, for example, the Army and foreign policy. He recognised that there was need for caution and that these subjects, or any matter described as Crown subjects, should be administered by a Minister appointed by the Governor-General, to whom 'the Minister would be responsible. The rest of the Ministry should be selected from elected members of the Legislature., He suggested that subjects suitable for administration by Ministers responsible to the Legislature . might include the portfolios of home, affairs, industry; and. lahour,. commerce and labour,-and those, of legal members and the member for education and lands. He asked that the Governor choice of a Minister for Crown subjects should be .without restriction as to race and thought. The Army portfolio might well go to an Indian. The speaker said it should not be difficult to fashion a clause in the Constitution acknowledging in- the clearest terms India's liability to meet debts, and interest. Every decent minded Indian was prepared to stand by any liability inherited and he deriired also to see pen-sions,-salaries and allowances of the Services protected in every way. Concluding, the speaker appealed to Britain, whose Government had done more for liberty than any other Government in the world, to restore India's faith, and notably that of those who in many cases were in gaol because of acts done arising.out of lack of faith.