INDIAN PROBLEMS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20711, 23 November 1932, Page 11

INDIAN PROBLEMS.

I VOTING QUALIFICATIONS. ; KOIND-TAHLE CONFERENCE BEGINS SESSION. . BlilTkWl OFFICIAL wutr.LKSs.) : RUGBY. November I'l. The detailed work of the third Indian Hound-Table Conlcreneo began under ihe chairmanship of Lord bunkey i Lord High Chancellor,), when, m accordance with the provisionalagenda, the conference. Look up the consideration of the report of the Indian Franchise Committee, dealing with the provincial legislatures. 'lhe Lothian Committee reported that adult suffrage was an impracticable method of election at the present Mage. They equally rejected, alter examination,, the proposed modilications of adult suffrage, including systems of indirect election, and also a franchise based on a combination <il direct and indirect election. They recommended instead an extension ot the franchise by a direct vote. The general opinion of the conference on this .us that the recommendation of tlie Franchise Committee should be accepted and there appeared to be general agreement that an essential basis of the franchise should bo tlie property qualifications proposed by the Franchise Committee. Educational Qualifications. Regarding the principle of educational qualification*, in addition to property, the debate showed that many members would welcome it, unci certain members felt very .strongly that it ought to be adopted, hut it was recognised that the practical difficulties required further detailed exploration. It was agreed that since the general qualifications proposed by the Lothian Committee would enfranchise only a relatively small percentage of the depressed classes, special provision should be made to secure the presence on tho electoral roll of a larger percentage of the depressed clashes; also thnt the percentage of the depressed class voters to be aimed at should be ]() per cent, of the depressed classes population m each province. | The British delegation at the Indian Round Table Conference is the strongest that has ever been associated with Indian affairs, and indicates the importance which the Government attaches to the Conference. It comprises the Prime Minisl'M- (Mr Ramsay Mac Donald), president of the Conference; Viscount Sankoy, who will take the chair in Mr Mac Donald's abscr.ee; the Secretary of State for India (Sir Samuel IToare); the Secretary of State for War (Viscount Ifailsham); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir John Simon); the Minister for Education (Lord Irwin, an ex-Viceroy of India); Mr .J. C. C .Davidson (chairman of the rndian States Committee, appointed by the last .Round Table Conference): and the Under-Secretary for India (Mr 11. A. Butler). Non-Governmental delegates include Earl Peel (formerly Secretary of State for India), Earl TVinrerfon (former Under-Secretary for India), and the Marquess of Reading.]