WORK OF COMMITTEES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 148, 20 December 1930, Page 9

WORK OF COMMITTEES

QUESTIONS OF FRANCHISE FEDERAL STRUCTURE (British Official Wireless.) (Received 20th December, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 19th December. 'Tho Sub-Conmiittco of the Indian Round Tabic Conference appointed to deal with, franchise questions held its first meeting this afternoon, the Attor-liey-Goiiara], Sir William Jowitt, presiding. The procedure adopted in connection -with the other sub-committees was followed, and a list of possible heads of discussion was beforo members. Tho discussion, however, was of a general character to-day and ranged over a wide field. It did not touch upon tho questions of minorities, communal cllectorates, or special interests, for the chairman had pointed out that those subjects must be treated as within the special sphere of the Minorities Sub-Committee. Views were expressed on the practicability of the introduction of adult suffrage into India in the present circunistaa<ees, for example, the difficulties duo to illiteracy, poverty, and lack of communications, together with the practical difficulty of any increase in the number of separate constituencies from the pount of view of tho size of the Legislative Councils. Somo members urged the desirability of increasing the representation of rural areas, and mentioned the possibility of including an elective system for village communities. Tho general discussion had not concluded when the meeting ended. It will continue on Monday. The federal Structure Sub-commit-tee entered upon a detailed consideration of subjects and functions not already classified as Federal, and regarding which tho control exercised may bo retained by tho centre in future. It was dvocided to appoint a sub-commit-tee to consider tho lists of subjects referred to, and to suggest a provisional division into throe categories: (1) Exclusively central; (2) exclusively provincial:; (3) subjects in which the centre and provinces both aro interested, and which, therefore, might be subject to co-ordination.