GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17814, 13 July 1923, Page 9

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

THE VICEROY'S POWERS. DEMAND FOR RESTRICTION. -BT CABLE-PKES3 ASSOCIAnON-COPTBIOHT.) UsTBALIAS ASD X.Z. CABLE ASSOLIATIUH.) DELHI, July 11The Legislative Assembly was packed u-ith both members and public for the debate on the question of the Viceroy s powers of certification. The motion belore the Assembly was:— That in view of the misuse of the certification for the doubling ot the salt tax the Government of lnclia \ct be so amended as to restrict tins exceptional power to measures considered essential for the safety and tranquillity of British India, and, to delete the provision permitting its use, as well, in the interests ot -British India. Both sides were strongly represented. The opponents of the motion took the view that the Viceroy and the Government were solely responsible to the British Government, and, for the discharge of this duty special powers had teen provided. ciome members deprecated this indirect attempt to force a premature and momentous constitutional advance. The motion was carried by 38 votes to 36. One of the proposals in tile Indian finance Bill of lust iViarcli was the dousing ot the salt tax with the object ot assisting to balance the Budget. Hie Bill was passed by the Council ot State unamended, but the Legislative Assembly twice rejected the doubled salt tax. The Viceroy of India then decided to exercise the special powers with which he was invested) by the Government of India Act, and he certibed. the Bill in its original form. In a lengthy and important statement by the Viceroy, published in a Gazette Extraordinary, Lord Reading set out tho financial position of India, and explained why he had certified the Finance Bill, and concluded with the following remarks: "I hold strict views regarding the exercise of my special powers. Their use can only be justified, in the words of the Government of India Act, 'when it is essential for the interests of British India.' This requirement has throughout been present to my'mind. In the present case the interests of India only and no other interests are in question. A balanced Budget is absolutely essential to her interests at the present time, and I believe that it is my duty to take the necessary action to secure this in the discharge of the responsibility placed upon me as Governor-General by the Imperial Parliament. It may be that the scheme of Reforms introduced by the Government of India Act will be attacked on account of the action taken by me. This would be unfortunate, arid could only be due to misapprehension, for the Constitution is embodied in the Act, and I do iiot believe that there is any substantial difference as regards the meaning of the important provisions under which I am acting. Unbalanced Budgets appear to me to' involve dangers to the future of India, perhaps inherently greater_ than any constitutional or .political issue, while their immediate effect is to stifle the development in the provision of all those beneficent activities, e.g., education, public health, industry, which should be the first fruits of the Reforms/ I am convinced, therefore, that my action will prove of ultimate benefit in the development of the Reforms and the advancement of India, and for these T shall continue to labour in the discharge of the high responsibilities entrusted to me as (governorGeneral."