WHITE POPULATION BEGINNING GENERAL EXODUS FROM INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 26154, 16 July 1947, Page 6

WHITE POPULATION BEGINNING GENERAL EXODUS FROM INDIA

(P.A.) , WELLINGTON, July 16. “An independent India can never survive if its people do not realise they are Indians first and Moslems and Hindus second,” said Mrs R. W. Corbet, W.A.A.C. major, who. with her husband and four daughters, arrived at her new Wellington home,- aboard the Tamaroa yesterday.

Mr and Mrs Corbet have spent most of their lives in India, but when the country’s independence was assured, it was realised that there would be few opportunities for whites, ajgl they decided to create a new home in New Zealand. * Mr Corbet said the white population was staging a general exodu,s from India. Even large business firms, such as the Eng-lish-controlled railroad companies, were selling out to local combines. ./ “ The lower caste workers fear the departure of British control,” he said. “ Gandhi lias assured such castes as the Untouchables that they will benefit from the change of Government, but they realise that their future will be uncertain when placed in the hands of their own people.” Mrs Corbet said the W.A.A.C. Corps had completely ousted the caste system. Women of all creeds and colours were billeted in the same quarters. No trouble resulted. In many cases Indian women had received their first taste of freedom and independence.