INDIA'S PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20415, 9 December 1931, Page 6

INDIA'S PROBLEM.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. VISITOR EXPLAINS EFFECTS OF GANDHI MOVEMENT. A detailed outline of the happenings in and around Bombay during the recent rivil disobedience campaign in India was given by Mr Charles H. Partridge, in an interview with a representative <>t 'J nr. Press yesterday. Mr Partridge is the special foreign representative of the Remington Typewriter Company and nlthough born in Christchurch lias been resident :n Bombay for nearly .'!0 yearn. The visitor was emphatic that although the campaign of civil disobedi-f-nee and that of boycotting BritisJi Hoods had resulted in heavy losses and much civil disturbance it was not supported by the majority of Indians who took the part of spectators and really enjoyed the campaigns more as a source (if entertainment. They were goodhumoured, and even the campaigns were directed against the Government and not against the European residents. "For a very long time the salt manufactured in India has been so produced ;ih a Government monopoly," Mr Partridge explained, "and it was the One way by which tho Government could exact a tax from the poorest classes. The centres of the industry are chiefly on the* Malabar Coast of India where there are largo intakes of sea water which is allowed to evaporate and the «alt then collected. Gandhi led his followers to believe that the salt belonged to the sea and the Government could have no claim on it as it belonged to all the people in general. That started off tho policy of civil disobedience and the attacks on tho salt works. Clashes With Police. "Masse# of Gandhi followers gathered in the centres and proceeded to inarch through the salt works armed with bags. They filled tho bags and carried away tons of Government salt. In some instances the police intervened and clashes occurred and in other cases the erection of wire barricades was sufficient to avoid serious trouble. Finding that their efforts were being hampored around Bombay itself tho Gandhi followers tamed their attention to the salt works further up the coast. There & ramp was Established and volunteers mobilised from other parts in the planning of a mass attack on the works. On the other hand thb Government and the police were arranging a defence of the works, Using barbed wire. It was probably because a very serious conflict seemed imminent that it was decided that Gandhi had reached the end of his tether and in tho early'dawn he was arretted in his tent and hurried away to gaol at Poona. A Huge Camp. "At the time of his arrest there were between 3000 and 4000 in tho camp of his followers who were planning the attack on tho salt works. "In addition to the campaign of passive remittance and disobedience further annoyance was caused the authorities by an extensive campaign of boycotting British goods all foreign goods. It was aimed chiefly at the imports from Great Britain, however. In carry ing this campaign into etfoct the whole"" force of the Indian National Congress was brought to bear and volunteers were called to act as pickets outside all European and Indian shops dealing in goods of British manufacture. These pickets wero posted and it was theiif duty to implore the people not to purchase British goods, especially aiming to prevent purchasing of piece goods, such as clothing, of which vety large quantities are imported. Picketing Shdps. "Picketing was also extended to the liquor shops 86 at) to further reduce tho Government revenue, tfhese liquor shops are run by Indians and fcell mainly 'toddy'—« fermented liquor obtained ffom tho palm trees. "The position of the shopkeepers be* came «0 serious that it was necessary for tho Government to introduce laws . making picket# illegal. This was carried into efftei ifift Immediately the real ftlri ] began, Mlt Witt. ' , • "The dfclfr/fcditillties of ea<sh Side be' came the itlOW Of ifltertainment of tlie , partieolif Utt&Uty la Whldb it was 6M6*' < «J. Promptly ttts 10 «.% each day the J pickets woula be posted aad Just m i promptly at 11 a.m. the police vans put la tbeir appearance and, assisted ' by about 20 native police and three or four police sergeants armed with bamboolattl*, tndk the, pickets irttd oliStody. "Hie usual penalty upon convic- 1 tion was three months' imprisonment with bard labour. . ( tb« 9«Uy S&tettaiumettt. "At 10 a.m. there Wfts always a verylarge assemblage of Indians to Witheis j the daily incident, and there was a great cheering when the heroes were marched 0)® to prildn. However, that , did not conclude the show for the day. The crowd would not disperse, but wait about all day in the hope of seeing more incidents and whett the blockage ! of traffic became too acute, the police used to mki lftttl eharges. "There was a great deal of humour in the crowd and it was a feature that when fleeing frott the laiti attacks the <*rowd contained 90 per cent, of natives laughing heaKtily and enjoying the wholo escapade. The Indians were in no way hostile to the European residents and I myself have moved about among the crowd and seottfed a cheefy reply to a cheery word. The hostility is directed against the Government The thousands' of Indians employed by Uufop&ans are (most loyal and spare no pains to show their disapproval of the Gandhi movement* ChUxOhi'fi Jollowing. "Gandhi's chief following consists of dissatisfied studentl Who httve been educated and have not found positions, merchants, and shopkeepers who have no direct dealing With the European firms, and the uneducated agriculturists. "The general policy of disobedience and boycotting continued for many month*, mi resulted in very heavy losses to European wholesale and retail tirms, and also brought about an almost total cessation of the import&titih of foreign cloth. The antipathy towards foreign cloth was shown by the building of It in httge piles In the streets and the lighting of the piles as bonfires. Indian Shopkeepers wore afraid to sell the gooda for fear of reprisals from the Congress. "Tho hostilities were abated when Gandhi was released from gaol to confer With the Viceroy With a view to withdrawing-civil disobedience and holding the Wit Boulid;Table Conference. Native* and s&ropeius*. "It WOttld interest many people to see the respect itt Which tha European resident* Hf6 held even With duobsdi- < enee so rife. For instance in the main park ifl.idffihfty.it if ft «ooittoß tight to i see 200 to SdO Europeans sittlng eii the j lawn, in thß 6001 Of the evening adja- < cent 60 eroWda Of from 10,000 to 16,000 < Indiana to epekhea fwm ftgi* 1 tators, or also sitting OH the lawns 1 in tlie huge public domain. < , Solution Of jproblfltrl, t "The one solution for India's piobj |cm is by ftoufld'Table Cofafefenecs re- f

Suiting in an agreement bfetwefcft ttlfe priilces and the most intellectual Indiana of all castas obtained aitef ftfce discussion, Unfortunately G&iidhi ftnd his following have held sW&y for go lofig and worked up such extrttiiG vie#B that should they decide not to accept any decision arrived at then the positi6fl WftUld become diffldUlt &nd ond which th<J CfOfefrlfliftnt would WtaifllV hftv* a irtdit difficult task irt faciilg," Mr Cartridge concluded.