INDIAN REFORMS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 442, 26 February 1909, Page 7

INDIAN REFORMS.

THE COUNCILS BILL. « DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. FRIENDLY CRITICISM, (at ts«oeai"b—rßEss association—cbrinioni.) London, February 24. Dnring the. second reading debate in the Houso of Lords on the Indian Councils Bill, Lords Curzon and Macdonald indulged in friendly criticism of the measure. They strongly deprecated tho appointment of natives on tho Viceroy's Council. The Bill concedes Mohammedans separate electorates, and in tho Legislative Councils a number of seats in, excess of their numerical etrength. (Reo. February 25, 10.45 p.m.) London, February 25. In the Houso of Lords, after criticism from Lords Cromor and Lansdowne, the Indian Councils Bill was read a second time. Lord Slorley promised to givo information in committee regarding tho effect of the main regulation.

; :'::■; ;v FEELING;IN INDIA." ■'■' ! ■-■'■ 'U" 1 5 e w im -®iC Bombay correspondent writes: ./lord<MorleyV' dispatch has been published •in; Calcutta.: .Broadly, the: soheme'goes much further than; was anticipated. 'Nevertheless, it •has .been greeted in the official world without .misgiving,-; and is welcomed by ■ responsible. Indians with something 'approaching enthusiasm. .Lord-.Money's firm insistence on a permanent ioftoml'majority in .the-Vice-regal; Council un-:derpins'.the-fundamental, conditions of .the British .paramountey.' With this. uncompromis-' lngly. assured, -the' saorifice of the official majority- on- provincial, epunoils- can -be confidently' ■accepted,-aid'the.popular element can-be carried .through the: district administration right' 'down to the -village.; -Indeed, the abandonment 'of the official' majority in the • Council and the-withdrawal, of official participation, in local bodies is already in-praotice.in the' Bom -: bay Government.- , -.■.:-■. '■■■■■'.-> ■:■'■'. ■-."': - ; - ■-". ■;>; < • ■'The, appointment of Indians .on executive councils-is .approved; "subject, to the condition that !administrativo' efficiency, is the gauge for ;their'selection. \ The- Electoral, College is accepted 'as providing the only, meansof. secur---.ing. the automatic representation -of.•> minorities' : in ■ the .complex conditions of Indian society. -The. scheme'is. also cordially welcomed' by the: as securing, their adequate repre-i-seritation, .but _the -Pa'rsees: feel that .it-'pre-judices their.':exceptional position.;.,The;moderate'lndian leaders ! regard; the scheme as -trail-' sopnding.: expectations. ■/;, They- particularly••■"ap-. predate.', the greater- freedom 1 of interpellation land: debate in the couricilsand 'the withdrawal hpf, the, cramping, influence ;of, the official ma- | ]ority in provincial Legislatures: .They, prize appointments on. executive- councils as opening to- Indians, theihighest ranks of the -service,'and , rthe.removal..of racial distinctions, by; snbstitu--1 ting'efficiency, as a' test; . A : discordant- note Lmusfc ~be:,'expected .from-.Bengal., ; : Elsewhere there is; a perceptible opinion .of gratitude, for the e'icentjonnklilie'rality.'of the'.reformß. - ! - ..' : :;"The'vleading -Bengalis' describe -lord -Morscheme as ;■' a real generous ■■', concession, speciallv/.welcome for the non-official. majority, the right, to mbvo resolutions,-and ther-'syste-'■ matricrdiscussinn -of; the budgets. '..-. Tho : points i criticised "are* the'unohaTit-cd Imperial; Council arid, the -unrefo.rmed- electorate.. Some ipeonlo -.are,- disapnointe(l;that ,the,partition ','is. .not I'mpdifiedi.bu't there is a general admission .that Hhe reforms; ore;so-snbstnntijil,that;they s,slihuld-enlist-the best men: in'public woi;ka!l : allies I 'of :the Government": ';•;'' )>/ -~ ■ ' "■;;- :; .> ■;- ;; - v< '■> > •. ;