INDIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 148, 23 May 1928, Page 5

INDIA

SEEKING A CONSTITUTION. PROBLEMS TO BE INVESTIGATED The riots which occurred at several places in India on the arrival of tho Simon Commission in February do not necessarily indicate the feeling of the more thoughtful elements in the native poulation towards tho commission. In a poulation of more than 300,000,000, only 2 per cent, of which is literate, it is almost impossible to ascertain educated opinion, particularly when the poulation is divided into many races, castes, and creeds. The fact that the riots occurred simultaneously at such widely separated places as Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras, showed that thqy had been well organised, and that extremists had used the noninclusion of radians in the commission to forment trXuble. They havo been making the m\>t of this factor. ever since tho personnel of the commission was announced. The Prime Minister (Mr Baldwin) and the Secretary of State for India (the Earl of Birkenhead) have several times explained that the commission is composed solely of members of the British Parliament because it is the British Parliament which will ultimately determine the form of government to be applied to India, and that it would be useless to appoint a commission which would draft proposals that Parliament would not accept. If the varied and divergent interests among the native population were represented on the commission it would become unwieldy and unworkable. Probably it. would never submit a report because it would not be able to reach any kind of agreement. The Simon Commission, which comprises representatives of all parts in the British Parliament, will submit a report that will form the. basis for practical discussion. Notwithstanding these explanations and the appeals to reason of the wiser Indian leaders, attempts have been made. to boycott the commission. The Hindus have definitely adopted the boycott, but their representatives havo taken infinite pains to inform members of tho British Labour party of their wishes concerning the extension of the reforms. The Moslems are divided into two camps, many of them fearing that if evidence on their behalf is not given before the commission they, as a minority community, will suffer when the new proposals are being drafted. Through tho All-India Depressed Classes Conference tho 60,000,000 “untouchables” have welcomed the appointment of the commission as a means by which they can make better known some of their tribulations. Despite the co-operation that will .be granted by sections of the population, it is dear that owing to organised opposition the commission will encounter considerable obstruction SOME OF THE ISSUES.

One of tho most important questions that the coiiimision will have to consider ie the retention or otherwise of separate .electorates. At present the Hindus and Moslems elect their representatives to tho Legislatures on a basis of population, but one effect of this provision has been to encourage proselytising by both sects. .As a result communal bitterness has increased. Until tho ill-feeling between the two sects has been mitigated, or abolished, progress in native political development. will be impossible. The Viceroy (Lord Irwin) has made several appeals for a cessation of hostility, and has offered to preside at a conference of representatives of both parties in an endeavour to achieve peace. It is generally recognised, however, that as long as proselytising continues peace will be unattainable, and that as long as separato electorates exist there will be an incentive to each sect to gain more adherents. The creation of a satisfactory alternative to communal representation presents difficulty. Another matter that will require much thought is tho possible extension of “transferred” subjects. At present the Indian Government administers a certain number of “reserved” subjects, such as finance, law and order, justice, and land, and it remains to be shown whether m the eight years which have passed since the introduction of the diarchy tho Indians have gained sufficient experience to be entrusted with further responsibilities. . Tho views of tho Indian princes will also need to bo weighed carefully. Grave doubts have been expressed by them whether they will not suffer seriously by an extension of self-government to British India. In return for protection against attack by foreign or internal foes the rulera of the, native States entered into treaties with the British Government, as the paramount suzerdin power in India, by which they granted it a certain measure of control over their affairs. They have dealt with the British Government through the Indian Government as its direct agent. Gradually as the administration of the native States has improved under the ruling princes, the Indian Government has ceased more and more to intervene so that the princes now exercise practically autocratic, but beneficial control. The princes contend that if the natives of British India eventu/ally attain self-govern-ment they will alter the policy of nonintervention, with the ultimate purpose of abolishing tho principalities. Even if they did not go to such lengths, it would be impossible for a native central administration to protect the princes as the British administration has done. The fears of the princes are exaggerated. Tho British Government would not; disregard its treaty obligations.

It has been estimated that, a hospital doctor walks an average distance of sixteen miles a day in tlio course of his duties, a shop assistant eight miles, a waiter twelve miles, and a tram conductor seven miles.