INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17720, 23 March 1923, Page 11

INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE.

COST OF ROYAL COMMISSION. ASSEMBLY REFUSES VOTE. (BT CABLE-PBES3 ASBOCIATION-COP TBialTV.) (iUSnilliS A» Sis. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) DELHI, March 21. There was an excited debate in the Legislative Assembly over the Budget proposal to vote three lakhs of rupees (£30,000) to cover the cost of the Royal Commission on the Civil Services m India. An Indian member moved that the item ba omitted, and was strongly supported in all parts of the House. Another member declared that it was an insult to the country that an outside authority should have appointed the Commission.

Sir Malcolm Hailey retorted that it was the first time that the KingEmperor had been called an outside authority. Finally, the vote was referred back by a majority of one, amidst great, excitement.

The Finance Minister announced that the Budget would show a deficit of 303 Jakhs of rupees (£3,080,000), and that the Viceroy had refused to allow extensive cuts in connexion with tho railways. Ho said the position created by the refusal of money to cover tbe cost of the Royal Commission was beiug considered.

In botli Houses of the Indian Legislature en January 25th Sir Malcolm Hailay, a member of the Executive Council of the Governor-General, announced that His Majesty's Government had decided to appoint a lloyal 'Commission on the Services in India. The precise terms of reference to tlie Commission had not yet been definitely settled, but would bo wide in their scope. It was contemplated that the Commission would be required (having general regard to the necessity of maintaining a standard of administration in conformity with the responsibilities of the Crown for the government of India and to the declared policy of Parliament in respect to the increasing association of in every branch of the administration, and having particular regard to the experience now gained of the operation of the system of government established by the Government of India Act) to enquire into the organisation and -the general condition of service, financial and otherwise, of the superior Civil Services in India and the best methods of ensuring and maintaining the satisfactory recruitment of such numbers of Indians and Europeans, respectively, as might now be decided, to be necessary in the light of the considerations above refered to.

Subsequent discussions in both Houses revealed .considerable hostility to the proposed Commission on the part of many Indian members.