INDIA TO-DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 20 January 1928, Page 7

INDIA TO-DAY.

COMMISSION ON REFORMS

DEPARTURE FROM LONDON

Received January 20, 1.10 p.m. RUGBY, Jan. 19. Lord Birkenhead, Secretary for India, speaking at a luncheon of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, referred to the commission which, headed by Sir John Simon, left London today for India to investigate there the subject of constitutional reforms. Lord Birkenhead said that the members of the commission had undertaken a task which meant that they must spend four months of this year and seven months of next year in India and then would have to devote many months more to studying the material they had collected. Lord Birkenhead stated that ho had the highest hopes of the success of the commission and added : “I have formed a clear view that the less interference from this side the better, unless of course there is any matter of real principle upon which the commission desire to consult me.”

The departure of the Indian Commission was attended by an unusual demonstration. Several hundreds people were assembled at the Victoria Station. Mr Baldwin, Lord Birkenhead, Viscount Peel, Former Secretary for India, Earl Winterton, Under Secretary for India, and a large number of Members of parliament of all parties, were present. Sir John Simon expressed his thanks for the splendid send off. A great cheer was raised when the train moved off, the Cabinet Ministers joining in. There were many Indians in the crowd.—British official wireless.