CONDITIONS IN INDIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 6

CONDITIONS IN INDIA

EFFECT OF INVASION OF ABYSSINIA VIEWS OF VISITING '4; BANKER “The Italian invasion of Abyssinia gave India a very great shock, and Indians realised that they would sooner have the Government they knew than risk the dominance of another Power,” said Mr E. P. Stocker, deputy-managing director of the Imperial Bank of India, in an interview yesterday on his arrival in Christchurch during a tour of the Dominion, He said that taking ihe country as a whole the new constitution appeared to be working very satisfactorily. India was decidedly more contented, and there was not the slightest doubt that the country was in a more peaceful slate than formerly. “With their representation in the Government under the new constitution the Indians now do not look on the English as the governing force,” he said. “Most native races are up against the Government, and if the Government is another race they are against that race. But now they do" not regard the Government in this light, and are on much better terms with the English. i“Eut after spending 27 years in India I realise how little I know about the country,” said Mr Stocker. “It is usually the people who pay short visits that give dogmatic opinions. India is really a continent, and with so many different races and religions it is impossible to generalise. But I can say that I have the greatest admiration for the Indian gentleman, whose manners are as fine as could be wished.” “Sound Financial Position” Mr Stocker said that India was now in a very sound financial position, as sound as any country in the world. The public debt had been reduced, and the money involved was spent mainly on irrigation schemes, which more than paid for the interest. India was the only country in the world where currency had increased in value since the war, the value of the rupee having risen from Is 4d to Is 6d in terms of English sterling. One factor which had helped to tide India over the depression was the export of hoarded gold. Indians were very much alive to the prices of gold and silver, soiling the one and buying the other, according to the ruling prices. Although elementary education for the masses of the population living in the country districts was behindhand there were very good educational opportunities in the towns, he said. Advanced education was readily available for the more highly developed Indians. Actually the universities wore turning out more educated Indians than could be provided with suitable employment. There wore many with the degree of master of arts who had to take clerical positions. Education of Women There had been a big movement in the direction of education for women, he said. There used to be a strong feeling against-it, but now women were receiving greater opportunities, and were taking advantage of university courses. Discussing social conditions, Mr Stocker said that the legislation against infant marriage had been fairly effective, and public opinion was being influenced against this custom. The development of India, he said, depended largely on bringing more land into production, and this could only bo done with irrigation schemes. Several schemes wore being planned, but the main consideration was to find an outlet for the crops. India now did not fear famine as formerly because of better communication which would facilitate the transport of produce from one part of the country to another. '