EAST OF SUEZ.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 129, 2 June 1908, Page 3

EAST OF SUEZ.

CAUSES OF INDIAN UNREST.

THE CHINESE IN MALAYA.

Mr R. D. PringleT^ho is visiting New Zealand, and who has been intimately acquainted with men and manners in India and the Straits, was interviewed by a representative of The Post with reference'to the unrest in India. It was, he thought, the most natural thing in' the world that as a result of the spread of Western education in India the natives should begin to look forward to a considerable- and ever-increasing measure of home-rule. '"I do not pose as an authority, but it seems to me,' continued Mr Pringle, " that it is surely the policy of an enlightened Christian nation so "to train i and educate? any people committed to its care as to entrust them at the earliest possible moment with the control of their own affairs." ■ ■ . ■ , "And bite the hand that fed them?" . J ~x "Well, that is my view apout it. The present striving in India towards the ideal of self-government is, in my judgment, the greatest .compliment that can be paid to British administration." „ T ~ ti'"■■■■■■«. "The natives of India may be sumciently skilled, sufficiently educated; but do you think they have the indispensable requisite of a self-govern-ing people-—moral backbone?" , "Let me tell you of a young, highly j educated Brahmin, a friend of mine, whom I met in London recently. He is a decided reformer, but of the most moderate type. He told;me that Home-Rule for India was undoubtedly the object of his own class; but that he and all those who thought with him felt that it would take another hundred years before it could be safely attained." ' / ■'■.- • ''From your observation of the working of the Indian mind, do you .aeree? '"""I do. It cannot be doubted that a; the present moment India is very .far from ripe for a larger measure of self-government, or rather self-control, for the people do at present possess considerable representation upon both municipal and government' bodies; but they are not ready for it yet."

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

'' Have you taken into account 'the vast difference, jn religion separating the Mohammedan and Hindu peoples?" '■ Well, the question whether the Hindu and Mohammedan peoples will ever combine to live peaceably tof;cther under native rule or under ndianhome rule is certainly a very important factor in such a question. It is believed by many that Lord Curzon's- policy was to widen the gulf botween these two religious communities in order that such a combination might never be effected. Signs are not wanting to-day, however, that this policy is being defeated." '' You think, then, that there are evidences of a rapproachment?" "It seems to be pretty clear from what I have, myself seen and from what others have told me that one day the passion to have India for the Indian peoples may consume the passion of racial and religious prejudices. So far as my observations have gone, England has governed India in times of war and in times of peace, in times of famine and in times of plenty, in a manner that is truly magnificent and always with the keenest eye for the best interests of the people of India themselves. Of that I have never been in doubt, and so you may | well understand my indignation when I heard a most eminent English divine inveigh British rule in India, and of the suffering of the starving millions there. I could have risen in the church and given that statement a total denial, for I had; as a matter of fact, just come from India, and had seen what the Government was doing to feed the people during the famine. Not only were there central depots where people could get plenty of food, hut the Government, but of deference to caste prejudices ,even went so far as to hunt out people and give them food, sending food carts with ample supplies into the most remote parts of the district. The distribution of relief was most lavish and absolutely without stint or preference. No Government could have done better. Of course the eminent gentleman to I have referred had""been misled —that was all." IN THE STRAITS. m As Mr Pringle also spent some years in-the Federated Malay States and Singapore, he was able to relate some interesting particulars of British rule, °r ,at an 7 rate British influence in Malay. In Singapore, he said, there were over 200,000 Chinese, and a large proportiou, perhaps half of them, were British subjects "and proud of ifc, too," added Mr Pringle. "They are a most up^-to-date people, and rejoice in their British, nationality. They are being very rapidly educated

on Western lines, and there are three higher grade schools in /Singapore with about 700 pupils in each, mostly Chinese boys, who are all learning English. The Chinese are the saviours of Malay. But for them, as Sir Frank Swettenham has said, Malaya would never have become the prosr perous,country it now is. 'AThe China*man is! a very • hard-working, honest, frugal,-and persevering man.

"THE SCOTSMAN OP THE T ORIENT?"

"He has all the good, qualities of the Scotsman. He may not have the dash and brilliancy of the Japanese,' but he has more staying power, and he. nev.er knows when he is beaten. In Singapore the Chinaman is seen everywhere: In the post office, the grocery, the Government offices, dragging a ricksha, sitting in the municipal assembly, and "you may be sure that the handsomest equipage to be seen in the streets belongs to a Chinese. The tin mining industry in the Malay States is largely in their hands, and, so far as I have ever heard, the relationship between them and their European emptoyees is extremely agreeable and perfectly satisfactory to the Europeans, at any fate."