REFORMS FOR INDIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 429, 11 February 1909, Page 9

REFORMS FOR INDIA.

' CONSIDERED 13Y.LORD MINTO'S ;"rv..;: ;V ''.:;^ : .COUNCIL.;-:';:. •;;'';.;,:';: :(P - TEI.EOIUrII— IMtESS ASSOCIATION— COPTBIOnT.) ■"■ ."'''•; '/■■; '!-."' Calcutta, February.'9.' ■•iLoi-d Minto's Council considered the report Of the Committee on Reforms, and as a result of the deliberations, a telegram' was framed for , dispatch to . Viscount Morley,' Secretarj: of. State for India, to assist'him in preparing his Indian legislation. '-. ■■:tTHE PROPOSALS OUTLINED. /v,Tlitf reformatio bo introduced into the Administration of India are-briefly as follow:— tli I'i llor ,?? so '" tho number of members both of tho-Viceroy's Legislative Council and of .the Provincial Legislative Councils. ■: -.: 2. -A'combination of the system of election with. Jtne: present system of nomination. : .- ,3..The removal ,of the prohibition against resolutions .or divisions on any motion, and .against-financial discussion,!'and the giving .to the Legislative Councils '' power • to" discuss' -niatters •; of-general, importance,- and to', pass recommendations..-and .'resolutions for tatioii.tb the Government. ', '■ ■■■ ■■■•-■-•'■'. ;. '4. Viceroy's Legislative'Council'to be increased from 24 to 62 representatives, the. neiv.members to be drawn from tho Provincial .Legislative . Councils,' from 'chambers ',bf.-.commerce, and the: Indian commercial commumty.'generally. ' , ■ ..' .----. >; : s.\.Tlie i number,'of members" of the Bombay' ;and; Madras •■.■ Executive . Councils; to. bo : in--' crdased-from. two" to four,, at-least one of the' ,additional mombers in 'each-case to' bo an :liidiflriVj-'--?K-'V'"..-V'- '-;'■■'■■.'.•" ;','•' i'".-'-:";>V;:.v.'.'.' ;:: : ;6.'Somo of.,tho lieutenant-governors to be providetlwith'an executive council, thepower of,:tho lioutenarit-governors to overrule this counoil tovbo.at.tho samo time defined;',.;. v 1 .;;;)^^;--":f PRESS: OPINmNS. ::,;,■,,;-"■■ j; Subjoined:are: the more' noteworthy of the .press, comments, oil. these proposals:—, ;:'•■, ■". -„; : '!:The says: ■•■" Wo 'welcome ~tlie general; character ; of. Lord ■ Morley's reforms"; we'.recognise ..the! high' and noble purpose'.with iyhichall.of'them'havo been-franied; we'rogard.: sonic -of .them,- .such ,as' those affecting the'increase'in ;• the fitrongth' ; of 'the -LegislativeY.CouJlcils,-; -with. genuine approval,- but, wo'Cannot/conceal-our. grave-doubts as to theexpediency of others—especially' 'of ,'those which .seem ;tb: affeot, the composition, "and ■with' it':the yigb.ur,;of-the Local and Central Executives."-vv:;:, ; -'."-'-..-.. -■,;<-:'■' h ,-/.--v

■ ; ;,The;,:'.'!Standard"V,'.',These. 'reforms-, will not',; appease -the animosity''of -the extremist section of clndian Home Bulers:, At: the-best,; ■However,'-; tho enlargement .of the:. legislative -.Cpftnoils,'.. tho;.extcnsion of the .principle ■ of ■ ;elpctipn,:the: tentative admissiori.of.lndians to the'supreme and provincial executive councils,'and other.new developmehts'are likely to : be ;rep;a'rdb'd:;by-the more respectable section of,agitators?; as nothing. more:thau : ,a partial' concossion.to theirdemands;": .■'.■.■: : ..,: .vV-%'''^ , --T<Jegraph\ , :;;^V^rcjbice.-ih' : iWex-' ■tenijipii' of ; thb-functions conferred upon' the renfixklled' Asßemblies. ..They had better bo' .nroyide;d,.withevery:;facilitv i .for.doingireal : dolibeiativp .work.; > VWe? are. afraid. they "will' got .■to ; 'fcKita|tiofi-tin fthy/cas'o; but atleast'let us : .promdertherrv with every facilitvfor getting'to ; business.:';Tlib; ri'atiolv. 'is:;resolved :to".vmake fair,trial of-,tho groat experimoiiti' nor is. it diffioult to''pntertain:' at ■ onb -and thbt'sani'o • '"n 6 ■?.„ st ? rIII ■f" ld a. generous spirit. l : India T7 ! u •'■?»!!'•:"?"?aiid{from.us■ all pur.strength,, ris well, as' all our idealism.'.'. '■'■ : - ■•■'■' --T-M-n'b'i'^n'ly^News":■:;""We■ beliow thai these roforms.-^hbwever.'insufficient'thev.may. appeartb;. the. enthusiastic patriots .of India -• do/.in; reality ; set.us:.u[K)n. the ■•right'! road for? ; the.; recovery of .the ..moral strength and;, irifluenconvojwerp losing; fast. : ; It v is not yet' too: late,'..aiid.wp,agree; w-ith'lipr'd:Morlev'that,'i thouphitlie.crisis.isdifßcult.Hhcre'is no need:m. gloom ■; : ; His own work is- nt all events a' gleam of light-upon -the- road:" ■ •■' •■;':■'" ; -:^- :: ■:.; The.^ : Mprnine Post":. » TV e shbuld-be in-' elmed to doubt the wisdom of introducing tho machinery of general'.election and■'propor-' ■tlpnalfropresentation.into. 1 India,.'and .should ■■im6«me;.^hiit;.this ( i s.vstem 'and the ■.s!;the i :pfficwl.ma]drity;rifigHt.wcir-b'd'-left''-for' ■.■iMShiWgislatKm: aftor■, a', period :'of- bx-oerience .of • tho; system ;;propbs<xfr by,v tho-Iridiah:' Go- i vernnVOnt."-'.;- ! ;i-v :';-,-;-'- : ' :-;■'■■:>:;. ;.;.■.'■:: ;:•.'.;