The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1930. INDIA, INSIDE AND OUT

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2593, 28 May 1930, Page 4

The Feilding Star Oroua and Kiwitea Counties’ Gazette WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1930. INDIA, INSIDE AND OUT

Again India lias lieon under discussion in tin* House of Commons, lint this time the dehate lias lieen leu and directed liv the Labour Part'/ The mischief was done by members of Britain’s Labour Party in past years through their 'lack of sense of proportion and because, being in opposition, they lacked the leaven of responsibility. Now that Labour is in power at Home it is feeling the aftermath of loose tongued criticism in t-f'ie past bv its own members with regard to India. To-day it is the Labour Government that is declaring all is well with India, even though a revolt is in full swing W'fch serious affrays fond raids. AN hen Labour was in opposition only a few years ago its members so loudly yelled that things were far from Well in India that the rebel leaders of that vast realm were encouraged to Hatch the things that have now eomo home to roost. No more, complex political problem confronts Britain to-day than the future of India. It is not a simple question of the grant of Dominion status, but of the far reaching consequences of any step tow'ards the removal ol that restraint which Britain lias been able to place on factions wftjich other wise would eontinualy be at wavNow India is pregiant with grave possibilities.. That nnifehj oil the trouble is due entirely to the agitation of a disaffected section inspired bv Gandhi’s propaganda .and lienee not to he taken as a true indication of native India’s attitude, as a whole, to the British rule, is un questioned. The laet which remains however, is the . demonstrated cap acity of this section for creating serious ijisorddr, hud. unchecked, lowering the prestige of Britidi authority. This has led to the arrest of the prime mover, Gandhi himself, and to measures to exert authority on the part of the Bov. eminent in Lidia. The long-awaited publication of the report of the Simon Commission on the question o' self-government for India., may satisfy the aspirations of a large majority of native opinion. That it wifi fail to- satisfy those of Gandhi's persuasion is almost a certainty. It may be taken for granted that the disorders fomented by this dangerous agitator ever since the Simon Commission's second visit tel India were- organised for the express purpose of influencing the recommendations of the Commission. policy is entirely in line with that adopted by most native communities in interpreting British patience and tarobearance as a sign of weakness. Murtht trouble in India undoubtedly has been caused by the liailure ol representative political leadois in Britain to realise, when debating Indian questions in flip House o! Commons, that they are talking at the same time to a vast audience in India., an audien.ee. moreover, the subtleties and party motives or not educated enough to understand British political controversy, but, on the other 'Band .too ready to take every sentence reported 1i 1 era liv . 1. will probably be found that the Simon Commission’s report in > ts ■hr c« id implications' *vi 1 pfc*opose a further instalment of representative government for India parallel to the country’s progress in political deve’opment since the first 'instalment, granted ten years ago. The objective is Dominion status, but this constitutional condition cannot, in the nature of tilings Indian, he compare 1 with that enjoyed by such rivhoi.y British communities as Australia am. New- Zealand. India i s a vast ter ritorv, composed of native prineipa,ities under British projects,on and guidance, and areas under direct control of British authority, populat ed bv a. diversely of creeds and racial types in many eases, hopelessly irreconcilable either socially or in a political sense. Throughout all, there is a desire for self-government. With the best intentions in the world. Britain’s task in assisting this heterogeneous mass of peoples to realise their desire, even in part, is one of immense difficulty'. fhel,e considerations make tlbte- impending publication of the Simon Commission’s report a portentous event. It mav have the effect of a- soothing emollient. On t-hb -other band >t may be the spark to the mine. Even the Labour Party, whicihi was so urgent for th.e report in the past. now hesitates about its publication but it is coining , next week.