GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 19722, 24 November 1927, Page 5

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

THE STATUTORY COMMISSION BILL PASSES SECOND READING. (British Official News.) Press Association—By Wireless—Copyright. RUGBY) November 32. ■The House of Commons passed, without a division, tho second reading ol tho Indian Statutory Commission Bill. Earl Winterton, Under-secrotaiyy for India, m moving the second reading, said that ft was necessary to alter the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1919, which provided that a statutory commission was to bo appointed at tho expiration of 10 years. The present Bill proposed to substitute for “10 years” tho words “within 10 years.” In addition, it would bo necessary under the provisions of the Act to ask Parliament to concur in the submission of names to the King, and a resolution to that effect would be tabled by himself and discussed on Friday. Earl Winterton pointed out that the third' assembly under the Government of India Act would complete its period of life, and the third Parliament would come to an end some timo in the spring of 1929. .That was to say, when the commission would probably have finished taking evidence and presumably before it had written its report. Therefore the Government could claim that this Bill, though making a change in the letter, did not materially affect the spirit of the Act. There was a recommendation of tho Joint Select Committee _ of _ both Houses, which was. recognised in this country and in India as being unsurpassed in authority as interpreting the policy of the Act. Tho recommendation of the committee was that no material change should be made in tho Indian Constitution within 10 years. On that point he had a two-fold answer to make. 'First, this particular recommendation had reference to an earlier recommendation made in the Montagu Chelmsford report that alter live years’ experience of tho working of tho Act proposals should bo invited for moailicntions. In clioct, the Joint Committee did not accept tho Montagu Chelmsford recommendation.' Tho second ansWer was that no change was likely to be made as tho result of an alteration of the date until well after the 10 years’ period had been passed. The Statutory Commission would not report until 'at least well into the summer of 1929, and presumably tho Parliahicnt of that date would not he asked to deal with any alteration in the Act until Die year 1930, or more than 10 years after the passing of tho Act. lb had been made clear by statements made by members of the Government. that in certain circumstances it was intended to accelerate the date of tho Statutory Commission, and that reasons had been given which had Jed the Government to decide that the commission should now be appointed. Mr lan MacPhersou supported the Colonel Wedgwood declared that the Government hud chosen the most unfortunate moment and method ol appointing tho commission, and the measure was likely to do more harm to Anglo-Indian relations than anything the Government had hitherto done. Hic Ii dian Assembly’s assent ought to have boen obtained beiore the appointment. Mr Saklatvala moved the rejection of the Bill, which he described as .a hypocritical attempt to deceive India and the world. The Indians did not want the commission, but a roundtable conference. ... Several Lahontcs attacked the Bill, but did not support its rejection.